grand Forks, ND – Astronaut José Hernández inspired University of North Dakota students Tuesday with a message centered around perseverance and a simple “recipe for success” imparted to him by his father. Speaking at UND, Hernández emphasized the importance of goal-setting, preparation, and exceeding expectations, sharing the framework that propelled him from a farmworker’s son to a NASA astronaut.
Hernández’s visit, facilitated by the Hilyard Center, utilized a new film screening system that provided more detailed data than previous setups. He framed his journey as a testament to turning adversity into prospect, recounting how his father’s advice – a four-step plan – guided his path. the “recipe” involves defining one’s purpose, assessing the distance to a goal, creating a roadmap, preparing for challenges, and consistently giving more than is expected. “And then he walked away. I said, ‘wow, my dad thinks I could be an astronaut, and he gave me a recipe to achieve it,'” Hernández recalled. “And I’ll tell you guys, that works. I still use it today for all the other things I do. … That’s the most important part of this talk, is that recipe.”
Beyond the personal anecdote, Hernández stressed the value of collaboration, encouraging students to form study groups and utilize professor office hours. He specifically acknowledged the support he received from TRIO, a federal student services program, noting the crucial tutoring in calculus and physics that aided his academic progress. UND also offers TRIO Student Support Services and celebrates National TRIO Day annually in February.
The impact of Hernández’s story resonated deeply, as evidenced by a student’s earlier excitement shared with Hilyard center Director Stacey Borboa-Peterson, who revealed her father considered Hernández a role model.This affirmation, Hernández explained, is the driving force behind his speaking engagements. He recounted a similar encounter in an airport, were a man credited Hernández’s example with inspiring him to become a mechanical engineer.
Hernández acknowledged the unexpected weight of being a role model after being selected for the astronaut program, and extended that responsibility to the students present. “You can either ignore it, or you can embrace it and use it for good,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been doing. … That’s what we all have got to do. We’ve all got to be role models for little nieces and nephews or cousins, and for the community. Once you go to collage,you’re a smaller percentage of the population that does that,and you set the tone for the rest of your community.”
