SPOKANE, Wash. — Astronaut Anne McClain spoke with math and science students at Gonzaga Prep Wednesday afternoon.
McClain is a Gonzaga Prep alum and is going into her third month aboard the International Space Station. While she's on the International Space Station, McClain only has six opportunities for live video chats with people on Earth.
Gonzaga Prep students felt honored that she chose them. Students asked the astronaut questions about everything from life in space to how she stays motivated. NASA doesn't allow any video or pictures of the chat. After the event, students were still beaming from what they'd heard.
"Just her interacting with students, kind of gave me chills a couple of times," said Gonzaga Prep Sophomore Adalgisa DeCaro.
McClain's former math teacher, Shari Manikowski, said there's nothing like seeing her student succeed.
"It's a teacher's dream to see any student reach their potential and reach their dreams. She had her dream from such a young age, and to watch her follow it every step along the way, from being a student here, to West Point, to the Military and then all the way through NASA is just a surreal experience," Manikowski said.
Back when McClain first arrived on the ISS, students gathered to watch. Senior Ned McEwen was one of them. At the time, he was deciding on what he wanted to do after graduation. On Wednesday, during the chat, McEwen announced to McClain that her work led him to decide on attending the Naval Academy.
"She inspired me to pursue that route. After seeing her go into a military academy, that really shows me that I'm going down the right path right now," McEwen said.
All throughout the chat, McClain encouraged students to just follow their dreams.
"It was crazy to see that someone who went to Gonzaga Prep, where I go now can have that career. But it just shows that my dreams are achievable even if you think they're impossible," DeCaro said.