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Raised during the Great Depression, Katherine’s family utilized their limited resources to prioritize education. She was academically advanced, completing high school by age 14. Dividing her time between school and work at the Greenbrier Resort, she rapidly advanced her knowledge, ultimately obtaining degrees in mathematics and French from West Virginia State College by age 18.
Despite achieving significant educational milestones, the employment landscape for black women at the time posed substantial challenges. With limited opportunities in the field of mathematics, Katherine initially chose to become a teacher. However, her brilliance and tenacity shone through, leading to her hiring in 1953 at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became NASA.