Coloma had the opportunity to visit NASA facilities as part of her internships.
Courtesy of Andrea Coloma
By Elizaveta Clark
When Andrea Coloma was a little girl, she, like many other children, wanted to become an astronaut. Different interests took her in other directions when she was a teenager, but her deep fascination with NASA and everything space-related stayed with her forever.
Right after high school, Coloma didn’t know what degree she should pick. Having an interest in graphic design but not yet having a good skill set, she didn’t know whether she could do that professionally. Not wanting to waste her time getting the “wrong” degree, Coloma decided to do some research and ask for advice from professionals in the graphic design field. She signed up for a free trial of premium LinkedIn and started messaging every company she was interested in.
“I reached out to 30 people, and Molly was the only one who answered. You only need that one opportunity to bounce off of,” Coloma said.
Molly Kearns is a digital media specialist for Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Kearns set up a meeting with Coloma and three other people from the NASA design department. Coloma thought that this virtual meeting was meant for her to ask all the questions she could possibly have about the field to determine whether to pursue it. But by the end of what she thought was a “casual chat,” she was offered to shadow a graphic designer at NASA.
After having a hands-on experience in graphic design, Coloma did not hesitate and applied to the University of South Florida. Her career choice was made, and her action-packed journey began.
Courtesy of Andrea Coloma
Now, five internships later, Coloma not only had an opportunity to shadow a NASA graphic designer but also to create an illustration spread for NASA’s newsletter (and during a later internship, to design the entire product), produce children’s animation videos about the Artemis I lunar mission and illustrate an educational children’s book that will be published later this year.
For now, Coloma is not sure if NASA is her top-pick landing option after she graduates. But with five (for now) internships under her belt and a USF graphic design degree (Spring of 2025), her chances at landing a good job in the field are promising.
Coloma was able to combine her childhood dreams and practical skills and interest. During her internships with NASA, she was able to further her skills as a graphic designer and witness space history being made.
When asked what advice she would give to other students who want to apply for internships but may doubt their current skillset, Coloma said to “trust the process.”
“Find a mentor that encourages you,” she said. “Get as much feedback as you can and be able to take criticism well.”
