Tiera Guinn hasnt graduated college yet but shes already working for NASA.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technologyseniorhas workedas a rocket structural design and analysis engineer for the space agency since June 2016. She designs rocket components for ventures to Mars and other deep space destination, and analyzes them to ensure they wont break during flight.

Shes living out adream shes had since she was 11 years old. Guinn remembers seeinga plane and wantingto know how to build one.

Id had a passion to become a mathematician, inventor everything you can think of under STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), but when I lookedat theplane, Iwanted to do that, Guinn tells USA TODAY College. I got stuck on that.

(Photo: Tiera Guinn)

That interest sparked her desire to study aerospace engineering, which led to her work with NASA.

After a Boeing representative visited MIT in 2016, Guinn accepted her dream job with company working on NASA projects. She works withthe structural analysis and design team at BoeingsHuntsville, Ala. location on school breaks and puts in about 20 hours a week working remotely from campus all while maintaining a semesters load of classes.

Ive seen the design (for the rocket) come into fruition somewhat so far, says Guinn, 22. I love looking at something Im designing and realizing it will be built.

Guinns success doesnt surprise her mentor Orren Williams, who taught her high school engineering classes.

Shes fulfilling her dream, but it wasnt handed to her she has worked every step of the way, Williams says.She was one of those students who made me get up in morning looking forward to go to class.

Guinn says her drivecomes from the significanceof her work.

The best part isknowing that what Im building isgoing to affect the world and mankind, shesays.This rocket can really change what we visualize as possible.

Guinn counts Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician,as one of her role models. Johnsons work made instrumental strides in sending the first American to space. Whats more, itinspired the Oscar-nominated, box office hitHidden Figures.

Even in those times, when everything was against her, she still did what she wanted to get done and made history as a result, Guinn says. Shes been a huge motivation in my study.

Like Johnson, Guinn is no stranger to challenges. She says she focuses on the support she has received instead of the obstacles yet to come.

My parents always told me that others dont declare the fate of your destiny, she says. Its up to you to achieve the dream you set in the first place.

Guinn willjoin NASA as a full-time employee inAugust andwill continue to work with rockets.

My most memorable experience in college has been implementing what Ive learned and experienced, says Guinn, who serves on the Black Womens Alliance and also choreographs African dance at MIT. Its great because it gets to continue after I graduate.

She may havealready achieved her childhood dream, but Guinn shows no signs of slowing down.She plans to create an organization for low-income students that will inspire them to reach their goals as well.

I always like to make the dream larger after its achieved, Guinn says.I want to pass onthe resources Ive received and much more.

Brooke Metz is a member of the USA TODAY College contributor network.

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This college senior juggles school and a job with NASA like it's no big deal - USA TODAY College