From East LA to NASA: The Power of Perseverance

What happens when a childhood fascination becomes a dream—and that dream survives failure, setbacks, and uncertainty?On this episode of The Story Seat, Irene Chan shares the remarkable story of her journey from growing up in East Los Angeles as the daughter of an immigrant family to becoming a Flight Planning Engineer supporting NASA's International Space Station and Artemis programs.Her story is one of curiosity, resilience, mentorship, and refusing to let difficult beginnings define what is possible. From academic probation and losing her first engineering job to helping support missions that advance human space exploration, Irene reminds us that sometimes the path to an extraordinary future begins simply with the courage to keep going.A story about perseverance, possibility, and believing you belong—even before you know exactly where you're going.