For many children, the stars seem impossibly far away.

For Mae Jemison, curiosity and determination helped turn that distant dream into a historic achievement.

Born Oct. 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama, Jemison was the youngest of three children.

Her family moved to Chicago when she was 3, where she grew up.

As a child, she developed a strong interest in science, especially astronomy.

She also enjoyed dancing, acting, reading, and learning about different cultures.

At 16, Jemison entered Stanford University, where she studied chemical engineering and African and African American studies.

She later earned a medical degree from Cornell University and worked as a doctor.

She also served as a Peace Corps medical officer in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

In 1987, NASA selected Jemison as an astronaut.

On Sept. 12, 1992, she traveled into space aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, becoming the first Black woman in space.

Jemison’s journey shows how curiosity can lead to extraordinary opportunities.

Her life continues to remind young people that they can pursue more than one dream ? even those that reach beyond Earth.