The Story Collider

This week, we’re presenting stories about the struggle to find acceptance — whether it’s at Space Camp or in the United States of America.Part 1: Computer scientist LaShana Lewis’s childhood dream of attending Space Camp starts to feel far away — until she gets the Christmas surprise of a lifetime. Part 2: When Guizella Rocabado leaves her home in Bolivia to pursue her education in the United States, her plan hits an unexpected snag. LaShana Lewis grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois, where a love of the night sky led her to the Saint Louis Science Center as a longtime volunteer, and later a docent presenting talks on astronomy and aeronautics. She studied computational mathematics at Michigan Technological University, earned a HarvardX honor certificate in computer science, and attended NASA Space Camp. Now based in Los Angeles, LaShana serves on the board of STEAM Superheroes, a nonprofit inspired by Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols’ legacy, and leads L. M. Lewis Consulting, bringing over 20 years of expe