I am a military-connected teen who is extremely passionate about science. But, because of military life, I moved eight times, switched schools six times, and faced five cumulative years of deployment. As a result, my STEM opportunities were inconsistent and temporary. It is my goal to change that. With the disrupted education that comes with moving, box forts became my pathway to science, problem-solving, and engineering. These box forts were the fuel that empowered me to think like an engineer and pursue the dream that has held me since I built my first box-fort rocketship: I want to be an astronaut. After seeing the impact self-taught STEM left on me, it became my mission to create equal STEM opportunities for military kids around the world. I began with public speaking. At conferences, I spoke to educators and compact commissioners from across the country and shared my story for the purpose of changing the laws and practices surrounding military kids' education. Soon after, I became a part of the National Military Family Association’s teen public speaking cohort, where we work every month to improve the lives of military kids. Additionally, I am a current NASA STEM Enhancement in Earth Science intern, where I am conducting research on the psychological and physiological deficit countermeasures in human spaceflight. I hope to make people's lives easier in space and on the ground. Eventually, I started FreedomSTEM. FreedomSTEM is a student-founded nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding STEM opportunities for military-connected youth through hands-on STEM kits, educational workshops, outreach initiatives, and advocacy efforts. The organization's mission is to empower the next generation of innovators by making STEM education more accessible and engaging. FreedomSTEM has distributed kits, hosted workshops, and partnered with organizations serving military families across multiple states. FreedomSTEM's impact has extended beyond the continental United States, with STEM kits and educational resources reaching military-connected youth in locations as remote as the Northern Mariana Islands. FreedomSTEM is expanding nationwide through new partnerships with organizations serving military-connected youth. I truly, in the deepest depths of my being, want to change the world. Cardboard showed me that innovation, inspiration, and impact exists in the most chaotic and challenging parts of life. I plan to pursue these traits now, in college, and beyond as I pursue a career at NASA's Human Research Program. When I unpack in my dorm, boxes scattered across the floor, it will mark the last move of my childhood. Each box is full of memories, but the enclosing, simple cardboard holds the potential for me to craft another creation: my future.

From the moment I finished my first box fort rocketship at the age of three, I knew I wanted to be an astronaut. As a young child, I was naturally drawn to all things outer space. My daily outfit was an orange NASA space suit my dad bought me after a military deployment. I would lie outside in the grass, gazing up into the sky and identifying every planet I saw. I read countless books, built countless rockets, and designed several moon bases and missions. As I approached high school, I developed a strong affinity towards chemistry. A near-catastrophic science experiment involving how different substances reacted with the fire of a methanol burner led me to research the combinations of astronomy and chemistry, and I found a love for astrochemistry. Yet, through robotics and my current biology class, I also discovered a love for the effect of situations on human systems. I believe my academic path complements my career plans. I am taking the most advanced course load my school allows, and I am eager to take BC Calculus, AP Physics, and AP Biology next year. My love for science drove me to apply for a NASA internship, and I succeeded! I am a current NASA SEES Intern studying the psychological and physiological deficit countermeasures in human spaceflight. With the disrupted education that comes with moving eight times due to military life, box forts became my pathway to science, problem-solving, and engineering. Box forts were the fuel that empowered me to think like an engineer and pursue the dream that has held me since I built that box-fort rocketship: I want to be an astronaut. After seeing the impact self-taught STEM left on me, it became my mission to create equal STEM opportunities for military kids around the world. I began with public speaking. At conferences, I spoke to educators and compact commissioners from across the country and shared my story for the purpose of changing the laws and practices surrounding military kids' education. Soon after, I became a part of the National Military Family Association’s teen public speaking cohort, where we work every month to improve the lives of military kids. Eventually, I started FreedomSTEM: a nonprofit initiative to bring STEM opportunities to military kids around the world, no matter where they are stationed. FreedomSTEM has reached as far as the Northern Mariana Islands and will soon expand to both the east and west coasts. I spend up to 40 hours a week packing hundreds of STEM kits, conducting workshops, and creating online lessons so STEM can be accessible to one of the most underserved populations. It is my dream to not only make STEM accessible to every military-connected youth but also to pursue a career in STEM myself. I desire to be a part of NASA's Human Research program and become an astronaut one day. The world is at stake if science is not championed, and it is my goal to champion science wherever I go.