Christina Koch closes NC State homecoming with message of 'grit and self-trust'
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- NASA astronaut and three-time NC State alum Christina Koch wrapped up a two-day homecoming visit Tuesday with a packed event inside Stewart Theatre, where she spoke to students about wellness, ambition, failure and the self-trust that shaped her path from campus to deep space.
The program, titled Astronaut Strategies for College Students, drew a full audience as Koch answered questions from students navigating college life. She reflected on her time at NC State, her early career decisions, and the mindset that carried her through the Artemis II mission.
"Part of my self-care was pursuing the things that I love to do," Koch told the crowd.
Koch said she never assumed becoming an astronaut was guaranteed and how she had prepared herself for either outcome. "If I didn't do it, I would have this amazing life that
I had built and I knew it'd be OK," she said.
She also spoke openly about moments of doubt, including leaving a job in Boston shortly after starting. "I felt like I was a quitter. I felt like I had made the wrong choice," she said.
Koch encouraged students to embrace failure as part of growth, using rock climbing as an example. "Failure should be a metric of success. If you're not falling off the wall, you're not pushing yourself hard enough." She even noted how she planned to go rock climbing during her campus visit.
Earlier in the day, Koch joined Chancellor Kevin Howell and other administrators for a discussion on higher education and research funding. She described the view of Earth from the Artemis II spacecraft. "Put out your thumb and imagine Earth right behind it. That's how small it was," she said to the early morning crowd.
Koch's visit capped a two-day celebration that included the renaming of Engineering Building II as Koch Hall and the release of a limited-edition Howling Cow ice cream flavor,
"Howl at the Moon," in her honor.
Attendees said the experience was inspiring. "She's one of the people who've been the farthest from the planet ever," said attendee Tom Drewes. "She's such an amazing person."
Koch closed the event by reminding students that authenticity matters. "All my relationships got so much better when I started showing up authentically," she said. "No one discouraged me. And what a gift."
