South, then North and to Space
Posted on June 22, 2020 by Thomas Becnel
#MyFirstJob is a series focused on 69堂精品 Class of 2020 graduates who are beginning their careers.
Martavious Hails, a 2020 computer science graduate from the 69堂精品, spent three summers interning with high-tech companies in Huntsville.
That鈥檚 where he鈥檚 starting his career, too, as a contractor with the Jacobs Space Exploration Group at NASA鈥檚 Marshall Space Flight Center.
Hails works on a NASA team called SPoRT 鈥� Short-term Prediction, Research and Transition Center 鈥� which uses satellite information to improve short-term weather forecasting.
鈥淏asically,鈥� he explained, 鈥渨e take weather data from the geostationary environmental satellite and figure out ways to transmit and display it.鈥�
His plans for the future include a master鈥檚 degree in computer science. One day he鈥檇 like to work for Google. He thinks he would enjoy living in Atlanta or California.
Hails, 22, is from Montgomery, where his mother is director of education services for the state Department of Corrections. He attended Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School, where he studied graphic design and took a recruiting trip to the University of South Alabama.
鈥淎fter that, I was hooked,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 liked the campus and the people were cool. I liked Mobile and the history of Mobile.鈥�
At South, Hails lived on campus in the Delta Residence Hall. He was a resident assistant for two years.
鈥淪ometimes it would get pretty hectic,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 like dealing with people, interacting with people, then you wouldn鈥檛 like that job.鈥�
Hails minored in mathematics. He was active in the National Society of Black Engineers, where he was chapter vice president, and Collegiate 100, a 100 Black Men of America-supported program that focuses on the development of students through mentoring.
鈥淭hose were my two main organizations,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e still a minority in my field, there definitely needs to be improvement. But companies are opening up, things are getting better.鈥�
In Huntsville, he鈥檚 still new, but a friend already found one place for him to volunteer.
鈥淩ight now, I鈥檓 working with a Boy Scout troop,鈥� he said. 鈥淛ust being a role model, giving them someone who鈥檚 kind of their age, doing the right thing.鈥�
Hails remains a young gamer who can spend hours on his computer playing rocket League or Titanfall 2. Online, he鈥檚 always been 鈥渕artydude15.鈥� He enjoys competing and catching up with his friends.
In real-life Huntsville, he鈥檚 among thousands of young tech workers. Night life includes ax-throwing. Ax-throwing?
鈥淎x-throwing,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he secret is not throwing it too hard, and not throwing it too soft.鈥�
His girlfriend is planning a move to Nashville, less than a two-hour drive from Huntsville. She鈥檚 also a 2020 graduate of South. They met through the Society for Black Engineers.
For now, Hails is on his own in north Alabama. His mom taught him at least one go-to recipe for meals at home.
鈥淚 make some great brown sugar glazed salmon with rice and green beans,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t hits every time.鈥�
He stays away soft drinks and coffee.
鈥淲ater, juice and willpower,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want that caffeine addiction.鈥�
During college, Hails enjoyed summer internships at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville. There was no pressure. He could imagine a bright future with a forward-thinking company.
鈥淚t was fun, the coolest thing ever,鈥� he said. 鈥淢ost of the people I worked with were awesome.鈥�
Nearing graduation, he looked for employment in what became a challenging job market. It was frustrating. Her heard himself saying the same things in dozens of interviews.
Until everything came together with Jacobs and NASA in Huntsville.
鈥淢y best interview ever,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was fantastic. I kind of knew the area, so I was able to drop some names, and some of the things going on.鈥�
Hails got the job, graduated and moved north. He鈥檚 still adjusting to corporate life. The coronavirus pandemic hasn鈥檛 helped.
Like so many South graduates, Hails is working from home.
鈥淚t鈥檚 weird,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou just roll out of bed and you鈥檙e at work. I kind of have to force myself to stop at the end of the day. I鈥檓 the kind of person who, if I have a problem, I鈥檓 going to sit there and work until I solve it.鈥�