Soon entering the field of Aerospace Engineering, I’ve loved math since a young age. Of course, there were times I wanted to rip the various sheets of equations and classwork into oblivion. However, I didn’t find a real interest in mathematics until I went to high school. At the moment, I knew engineering and science were passions of mine, so I understood that to achieve the goals I had set for myself, I would have to become more engrossed in my math classes. That year I began my journey in Algebra I. I found it a relatively simple course insofar that I would receive good marks for the rest of the year. Now with all that said, I believe my favorite moment I had the opportunity to be a part of was my Pre-Calculas first semester final in my junior year. Taking my interest in aerospace and orbital mechanics, I used my knowledge of the many trig laws (law of sines/cosines) as well as learning to use parallax to find the distances of stars among other celestial bodies. Using the information provided by Erasthosenes, Aristarchus, and Kelper, I was able to perform my calculations concerning finding the circumference of Earth, the distance to the Moon and other planets, and the distance of stars. All in all, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the math I’ve taken throughout my high school career. In my eyes, math is like a puzzle; when all the right pieces are put together, the feeling of seeing the correct final product is unmatched. When I work diligently and receive praise, I feel inspired to continue pursuing a STEM field because similar to all problems in math and life, it’s all about putting those right pieces together to find a solution.

Through every step of the way, science has always accompanied me, yet it was not until freshman year that I developed a passion for engineering. During the summer before high school, I bought a laptop computer and purchased Kerbal Space Program. In the game, the player builds and flies a spacecraft by controlling small green creatures. Initially, the game's tutorials were simple, but once it tasked me with connecting two orbiting spacecraft by docking, each at different velocities and planes, the game grew ever more challenging. I continued to fail, yet I did not give up. It had become so frustrating to connect two spacecraft that I even considered returning the game; however, I had already passed the maximum playtime to do so. So, I held onto it until coming across an online guide troubleshooting the issues I had faced. Once I was confident, I tried again and succeeded in docking. From then on, I began to create more obstacles for myself to repeat the sense of satisfaction that I felt after overcoming that initial challenge. I became interested in the vast repository of information regarding the history of spaceflight, orbital mechanics, aerospace, and astronautics. Despite all of the information that I was consuming, it wasn’t enough. I began to bring these topics into my life as I created a project involving the use of gravity assists when maneuvering spacecraft. Meanwhile, I had the opportunity to interact with a NASA employee, exchanging information and receiving advice I could use for my work. By January of 2021, I had saved up for a faster computer. Rather than playing the game as it was released, I used a shared code to replace the in-game solar system with its real-life counterpart. Using what I learned about astrodynamics and thermodynamics, I experimented with new fuel types, engines, and planets. The increased difficulty of the modified program meant I had to take more into consideration when designing launch vehicles. Eventually, I had become proficient in the game's systems, launching my first satellite and achieving orbit. During my junior year, my STEM teacher inspired me to move beyond the game, focusing on 3D modeling and printing. Outside of this course, I began to apply what I was learning from my Physics class to create a launchable 3D-printed rocket. After many months of failed prototypes, I successfully launched and retrieved the rocket. At this point, I felt I understood orbital mechanics to a degree that I could incorporate it into my Physics exposition final. There I covered general relativity, quantum physics, the Van Allen belts, interplanetary travel, and orbital decay. With my passion for spaceflight, it was the process of discovery that launched me forward. Kerbal Space Program was not just a game; rather, it was an integral step that led me to pursue Aerospace Engineering. Had I returned it, I would not have found my calling. So now as I take a giant leap into the next step of my life, I see that I will reach the stars. With that, I hope to inspire others to pursue careers in STEM so that they too can work on crafting a better future for themselves.

Through every step of the way, science has always accompanied me, yet it was not until freshman year that I developed a passion for engineering. During the summer before high school, I bought a laptop computer and purchased Kerbal Space Program. In the game, the player builds and flies a spacecraft by controlling small green creatures. Initially, the game's tutorials were simple, but once it tasked me with connecting two orbiting spacecraft by docking, each at different velocities and planes, the game grew ever more challenging. I continued to fail, yet I did not give up. It had become so frustrating to connect two spacecraft that I even considered returning the game; however, I had already passed the maximum playtime to do so. So, I held onto it until coming across an online guide for troubleshooting the issues I had faced. Once I was confident, I tried again and succeeded in docking. From then on, I began to create more obstacles for myself to repeat the sense of satisfaction that I felt after overcoming that initial challenge. I became interested in the vast repository of information regarding the history of spaceflight, orbital mechanics, aerospace, and astronautics. Despite all of the information that I was consuming, it wasn’t enough. I began to bring these topics into my life as I created a project involving the use of gravity assists when maneuvering spacecraft. Meanwhile, I had the opportunity to interact with a NASA employee, exchanging information and receiving advice I could use for my work. By January 2021, I had saved up for a faster computer. Rather than playing the game as it was released, I used a shared code to replace the in-game solar system with its real-life counterpart. Using what I learned about astrodynamics and thermodynamics, I experimented with new fuel types, engines, and planets. The increased difficulty of the modified program meant I had to take more into consideration when designing launch vehicles. Eventually, I became proficient in the game's systems, launching my first satellite and achieving orbit. During my junior year, my STEM teacher inspired me to move beyond the game, focusing on 3D modeling and printing. Outside of this course, I began to apply what I was learning from my Physics class to create a launchable 3D-printed rocket. After many months of failed prototypes, I successfully launched and retrieved the rocket. At this point, I felt I understood orbital mechanics to a degree that I could incorporate it into my Physics exposition final. There I covered general relativity, quantum physics, the Van Allen belts, interplanetary travel, and orbital decay. With my passion for spaceflight, it was the process of discovery that launched me forward. Kerbal Space Program was not just a game; instead, it was an integral step that led me to pursue Aerospace Engineering. Had I returned it, I would not have found my calling. So now as I take a giant leap into the next step of my life, I see that I will reach the stars.