Amanda Nguyen, civil rights advocate, set to become first Vietnamese woman in space

Amanda Nguyen, a civil rights advocate and survivor of campus assault, is set to make history as the first Vietnamese woman in space."Harvard was my dream," said Nguyen.However, her dream turned into a nightmare."I like so many other women experienced assault, college campus assault, I was raped on campus," she revealed. Following her assault, Nguyen faced challenges."My rape made me make a choice, justice or my career, and I decided to choose justice," she said. Nguyen took her story to Capitol Hill. She helped lawmakers launch a Survivors' Bill of Rights. Her efforts led to unanimous approval from Congress and recognition from the United Nations. Nguyen never let go of her dream to reach the stars."I wanted to touch the stars... that, for me, made me make a promise to my younger self that I would honor her dreams before I was hurt," she said. Now, Nguyen is set to honor those dreams aboard a Blue Origin space rocket."My mom, her siblings are both refugees from Vietnam, and we came on boats, and now we're on spaceships," she said. Nguyen expressed gratitude for her heritage. "I'm so grateful to my heritage. No matter who you are, where you come from, you can absolutely make it through," she said. As she prepares for her journey to space, Nguyen continues her work for assault survivors."To the survivor in me who needed justice: I have answered her. And to that child in me who wanted to touch the stars: I am answering her," she said. Space For Humanity, a nonprofit organization, is sponsoring Nguyen's trip to space. However, the organization has yet to announce an official launch date. Nguyen, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, continues her work for assault survivors through her organization, "Rise."