@astrosandali

Ever since I was a wide-eyed five-year-old, I embarked on a magical journey alongside Harry Potter and his extraordinary adventures at Hogwarts. As the movies enchanted my imagination, I found solace in the enchanting world of witches and wizards, where bravery and heroism prevailed. Among the captivating characters that danced across the screen, Hermione Granger became my steadfast companion, her brilliance and unwavering determination resonating with my own spirit of intellectual curiosity. Throughout my childhood, I would immerse myself in Hermione's world, finding comfort in her nerdy charm and relatability. Her thirst for knowledge, her unwavering loyalty to her friends, and her bravery in the face of danger were all qualities I admired and aspired to embody. Deep within my heart, I harbored the belief that, like Hermione, I too belonged to the house of Gryffindor. But it was not until recently that I summoned the courage to seek confirmation, to put my cherished belief to the test. The official Wizarding World quiz stood before me, beckoning me to uncover the truth of my Hogwarts house. With trembling excitement, I answered each question, my heart pounding with anticipation. And there it was, in bold letters on the screen, the revelation that echoed my childhood dreams—Gryffindor. Emotions surged within me as I reflected on this revelation. Tears of joy welled in my eyes, for the Sorting Hat had confirmed what I had always known in my heart. It was as if the magic of the wizarding world had intertwined itself with my very being, validating my identity as a Gryffindor. Gryffindor, the house of courage and bravery, beckoned me with open arms. It was a call to embrace the hero within me, to face life's challenges head-on, and to stand tall in the face of adversity. I knew that the Sorting Hat's decision was not merely based on the quiz's outcome, but on the essence of who I truly am—a soul ignited by the fire of bravery. As I reflect upon my journey, I see the countless times I have exhibited Gryffindor's traits. Whether it was confronting my deepest fears, stepping forward to defend those who could not defend themselves, or taking on leadership roles to guide my peers toward a common purpose, I have proven time and again that Gryffindor courses through my veins. But it is not just bravery that defines me. Hermione's influence has cultivated a love for knowledge within my soul. Like her, I find solace in books, in the pursuit of understanding, and in unraveling the mysteries that surround us. I am the curious Gryffindor, forever seeking the hidden truths of the world and using that knowledge to empower myself and others. Today, as I proudly wear the emblem of Gryffindor upon my heart, I am reminded of the enchantment that has shaped my life. I carry within me the spirit of Hermione, the girl who taught me to embrace my nerdiness, and the bravery of Gryffindor, the house that calls me home. Together, they form a symphony of magic, a testament to the power of dreams and the undeniable truth that, yes, I am a Gryffindor, and I will forever be an embodiment of its courage, knowledge, and unwavering spirit.

There is no one answer to why we love math. For some, it is the challenge and the mental workout it provides. Others enjoy the feeling of satisfaction that comes from solving a difficult problem. Math also has a beauty and elegance all its own, with a structure and harmony that can be appreciated even by those who don't consider themselves mathematicians. But at its core, math is about understanding and discovering relationships between things. It is a way of making sense of the world, of distilling the chaos of the universe into something that is ordered and comprehensible. It is the language we use to describe the patterns we see in the world around us, and it is the foundation upon which all scientific knowledge is built. For me, math is more than just a set of rules or equations to be memorized – it is an ongoing exploration into the world of patterns and relationships. It is a never-ending quest to uncover hidden truths and Beauty within numbers, one equation at a time. I believe math is the key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe and it is the main reason why I adore studying it. It is a way to make sense of the world and see the beauty in the patterns surrounding us. Thus, I consider math as a man-made tool or a language to code and decode everything. It is one of the reasons why I was astounded by the complexity of its simplicity. As a Space Science student, I deal with mathematics to understand the complexities of the Universe. For example the velocities of binary stars, the age of the universe, the distance between celestial bodies, and many more. Not only that Mathematics is fundamental in most subject areas such as programming, statistics, and even engineering. Without Math, understanding such a complicated phenomenon would be impossible.

The secrets of the universe have captivated me ever since I was a child. I used to say, "I wanted to be a doctor when I grew up," like most children, and I had never heard of a Sri Lankan who had traveled to space. Even though I loved space, I felt like coming from an underdeveloped nation made it difficult for me to reach so far. I decided to study astronomy on my own and pursue a career as a doctor. That didn't sit well with me because I was eager to learn more about the mysteries of the universe. I soon realized that I needed to follow my passion or I would be disappointed growing up. I mustered the courage to tell my parents that I no longer wanted to attend medical school and instead wanted to study astronomy and space sciences. It was surprising news for my parents, who were first disappointed in me for pursuing a dream that seemed impossible. In contrast, my introverted, shy, and phobic personality has always limited my ability to progress. As a result, I was hiding in the crowd, too afraid to move forward. On the other hand, my curiosity about studying the universe inspired me to step outside of my comfort zone. In mid-2019, I was awarded a scholarship to the Advanced Space Academy at the US Space Camp and Rocket Center. Space camp helped me overcome my fears and encouraged me to pursue my dream of going to space and becoming an astronaut one day. It inspired me to spread STEM and space awareness in my country. It also taught me how powerful one person can be, not just on themselves but on young kids and the country as a whole. In the year 2020, I began my undergraduate studies to pursue my ultimate goal of becoming an astronomer. I concentrated on sharing my knowledge and experience with the STEM community during this time. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking while also giving me a lot of satisfaction. In 2019, I was a 19-year-old girl who wanted to go to space and had no idea that I would be one step closer to realizing my lifelong dream. All of these events marked a pivotal point in my life, and I kept working hard to achieve my objectives. In 2021, I completed the final stages of the dear moon project, which has been one of my proudest achievements in recent years. My parents eventually became very supportive of my goals and dreams. This taught me that if we put in the effort and thought, we can accomplish anything and that even though life isn't always about winning, we can learn a lot from our most difficult trials. Every day, as a student dealing with financial difficulties, I face a slew of mentally challenging circumstances. Hope is the only factor that drives and excites me to keep going. Despite the hardships, I try to make the most of the opportunities. As I am currently working on completing my BSc degree, financial support is a crucial factor. The following scholarship would be a great aid towards fulfilling my dream. In addition, not only did my curiosity for the Sciences of the Universe lead me to pursue academics in STEM but also helped me to grasp the meaning of life in certain ways. The celestial objects remind me how small we are yet matter the most when we look inside ourselves. Academic Portfolio: https://bit.ly/3z3qRBE

I'm Sandali Kumarasinghe a first-generation international student at Broward College from Sri Lanka. Since I was a child, I've been fascinated by the mysteries of the universe. Like many Asian kids, I used to say 'I wanted to become a doctor" when I grew up and I never heard about a Sri Lankan who has been to Space. As much as I loved Space, it felt like it is impossible to reach so far since I came from a developing country. So I determined to become a doctor and study Cosmos in my spare time. However, that didn't feel right to me, because I was thirsty for knowledge of the impossible. Soon I realized I need to follow my passion or else I would be regretful when I grow up. I gathered the courage, went to my parents, and told them that I no longer wanted to go to medical school rather I would choose to go to study Astronomy and Space Sciences. It was a shocker, and my parents were very disappointed in me for choosing to run behind a dream that never happened in the family before. On the other hand, my introverted, shy, and phobic personality has always limited my ability to move forward. As a result, I was hiding in the crowd of people without daring to step forward. However, my biggest inspiration: "the Universe" challenged me to step out of my comfort zone. I was awarded a scholarship to the Advanced Space Academy at the US Space Camp and Rocket Center in mid-2019. Space camp helped me overcome my fears and pushed me to pursue my dream of going to space and one day becoming an astronaut. It motivated me to raise STEM and space awareness in my country. It also taught me how powerful one individual can be, not only on themselves but also on children and the country as a whole. In the year 2020, I commenced my undergraduate studies in order to pursue my main dream of becoming an aerospace engineer. During these years, I focused more on sharing my knowledge and experience with the STEM community. It helped me overcome my anxiety about public speaking while also providing me with a great deal of satisfaction. In 2019, I was a 19-year-old girl who dreamed of going to space and had no idea that I would be one step closer to achieving my ultimate life ambition. All of these events marked a turning point in my life, and I continued to work hard to achieve my goals. In 2021, I reached the last phases of the dear moon project, which has been one of my greatest accomplishments in recent years. With time, my parents became very supportive of my dreams and aspirations. Not only did my curiosity for the Sciences of the Universe lead me to pursue academics in STEM, but also helped me to grasp the meaning of life in certain ways. The celestial objects remind me how small we actually yet matter the most when we look inside ourselves.

“When she was just a girl she expected the world But it flew away from her reach And the bullets catch in her teeth Life goes on, it gets so heavy The wheel breaks the butterfly Every tear a waterfall In the night the stormy night she'll close her eyes In the night the stormy night away she'd fly Dream of para-para-paradise” [Paradise- Coldplay] She was a girl with big dreams. She dreamt of a world where she had everything: love, family, abundance, and happiness. However, life was never easy, and it played hard on her. She wanted to give up so badly, but she couldn't, so she dreamt of a fantasy called “paradise”: a place where she had everything she wanted. She escaped the reality whenever it was weighing on her shoulders. “Don't be that way Fall apart twice a day I just wish you could feel what you say” “If teardrops could be bottled There'd be swimming pools filled by models” [idontwannabeyouanymore - Billie Eilish] She secretly battles depression, but somehow she wears a smile everywhere. Sometimes she cries herself to sleep, screaming inside, “Was I made from a broken mold?” She doesn’t want to be herself anymore, because she wants to be happier. She whispers into the mirror every time she sees herself, "I don't want to be you anymore." “Thought I found a way out (found) But you never go away (never go away) So I guess I gotta stay now Oh, I hope some day I'll make it out of here Even if it takes all night or a hundred years Need a place to hide, but I can't find one near Wanna feel alive, outside I can't fight my fear” [lovely - Billie Eilish & Khalid] This is just another episode in her battle with anxiety. She wishes she could find a way to get out of her stone mind without breaking her heart of glass. She has found many temporary solutions over the last few years, but they didn’t last long. She accepted that there’s no way she could hide or run from it anymore, preferring to battle and cope with it. All she wants is to stay alive and sane since all her inner demons are killing her slowly. “Tell me what we're fighting for And is it really worth the battles? We've been going back and forth Like an echo echo, echo echo I hurt you then you hold me close We get off on the highs and lows” [Echo - Armaan Malik & Eric Nam] She's a warrior, and she has lost and won many battles. Sometimes she questions whether all these years of handwork will ever pay off. All these mini victories make her happy and help her get off the lows. She cannot surrender, because she loves her dreams and believes her soul will conquer all this pain one day. But is it worth all these battles, sacrifices, and chaos? “Like an echo in the forest The day will come back around As if nothing happened Yeah, life goes on” [Life goes on - BTS] As spring has yet to arrive, not even a minute late, the world around us continues to move without notice. She understands that change and grief are inevitable and that no matter how difficult things are right now, better days will arrive, like an echo in the woods. Until then, she decides to go with the flow of life. “Mariage D Amour : Musical piece by Olivier Toussaint and Paul de Senneville" Finally, she found a way to be truly happy. So she started creating art to divert her inner demons. Now she can freely express herself through her art. Amid the chaos, she finally discovered serenity. And she is me … ________________________________________________________________________________________________ As a person who has dedicated my life to exploring the universe, I never fully grasped the value of art until recent times. I had no idea I was covertly leaning toward art (music or painting) to help me get through tough times. Now I have realized that we always find peace and happiness through some form of art to stay sane when things get out of control. Music is one of the most powerful healers of all. Thus I'm eternally grateful to these incredible artists for helping me in overcoming difficult times. Name of my playlist: she is me Link to my playlist: https://music.apple.com/lk/playlist/she-is-me/pl.u-PDb44l4seGEMXdz Artists: Armaan Malik, Billie Eilish, BTS, Coldplay, Eric Nam, Jacob's Piano, and Khalid

“ 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘵” - 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 Since 2018, I've been dealing with mental health issues. I never discovered a lasting solution to this problem, but I did develop a number of coping methods to help me survive with it. In 2020, the pandemic, the death of my grandmother, and the loss of my best friend all took a toll on my mental health. As a result, I began painting in August 2021 with canvases and paints that my mother had given me as a birthday present. I began painting as a means of experimenting with color combinations, but over time I realized that it was also assisting me in coping with difficult situations and expressing difficult emotions. Abstract painting is where I found my serenity. Abstract painting has the advantage of not having to be perfect, which was a huge relief for me because we all strive for perfection in this imperfect world. It taught me that it's alright to be imperfectly perfect and not be okay at the same time. I believe that if we do not transform our pain, it will be transmitted, so I turn my pain into art. Despite the fact that I am not a professional artist, I will continue to study, paint, and discover inner peace while promoting positive messages.

The happiest moment in my life is the day I saw my younger sister for the first time when I was only two years old. She entered my life at such a young age but I realized how beautiful my life is going to be. I remember her little cry when I first entered the hospital room. I thought I would be jealous now that having to share my parents' love and that's when I realized I had my first love at sight.

Last year October 7th at around 10:45 pm I received a call from my sister. As soon I heard her weeping voice I knew it wouldn't be a happy conversation. Then she gave me the most terrible and shocking news I ever had to hear, "Akke (Older sister in Sinhala) grandma passed away", and I didn't want to accept what I heard. I did not shed a single tear, because I was in utter devastation not knowing what my life would be without her. I got into a cab with my aunt and went to see my grandma for the one last time. I was reading the bible and praying that she would be still alive. My mom was mourning so badly, and I knew I wouldn't able to handle myself anymore. Next, I saw my grandma's lifeless body: yet she looked gentle even though she wasn't breathing. I collapsed to my knees and started crying in front of her body. She took care of us for 20 years, and now it was time for me to say goodbye to her forever. Her death did not only broke me emotionally but made me question my existence and faith. She left me with big questions about death, the afterlife, and the most tragic question of whether we’ll get to see our loved ones again? I have been looking for answers ever since and I don’t think I’ll find any until I face it myself.  Even though I had a hard time accepting the truth, and not knowing how to get over the grief, now I have realized sometimes some things leave us with no choice. I also realized that things will not be in our control, and we need to accept the way it is. So I understood that the best way to honor our loved ones is through carrying out their legacies. My grandma was a kind-hearted strong person, and she loved me and my siblings more than anyone. She always wished the best for us, and she always wanted us to be loving and caring towards others. I know that she wanted me to achieve things in life, thus I want to be strong enough to fulfill them in her honor. The biggest dream I have is to travel Space one day, and she would have been so happy if she could witness my launch to space in person. Space travel is a huge dream, however, I want to achieve it even though my grandma wouldn't be there in person. So I have worked harder ever since I lost her during the past months. At the beginning of this year, I got to know about the dearMoon* contest which is the 1st All civilian mission to the moon. I took part in this competition hoping it would make my dream a reality. I was able to reach the 4th phase out 5 stages of the contest. It is the biggest achievement I have made so far. On the other hand, my depression worsened with her passing and stressful COVID'19 lockdowns, but I had to choose courage over anxiety. As a result, I started creating canvas painting and it has helped me to relive from most of the stresses. Also, I hope to open my Art store named after my grandma since she was good at art and crafts herself. It is difficult to accept the truth and get used to the lives after their demise. The biggest struggle I had was digesting and accepting the fact I would not be able to her embrace her again. However, life is a short journey and we all must leave this world when it is our time. The best we could do is to live life without any regrets and love each other dearly. My grandma left us with the message of love, strength, and kindness. I chose to carry her legacy till I die no matter hard it has been without her. Like the ancient quote says," Love is like wind, we cannot see it but we can feel it", I still feel the love she left for us and I shall cherish it forever. It is okay that we would never be able to fill the void they left, I do not think we ever should because the voids they leave meant to be cherished and honored in their memories * dearMoon: https://youtu.be/CE5vdpFlamI?t=240

We all know it sucks when it comes to financial debts, however, @Bold.org got you covered! The biggest weight we carry on our shoulders is our financial struggles. Meme helped me to pay my college tuition! ✨📠📠📠✨

Since I was a child, I've been fascinated by the mysteries of the universe and have always wanted to learn more about the origins and endings of everything. I've always been a curious kid, and that curiosity prompted me to pursue Space Sciences as a higher education opportunity. At first, I was curious about how the big bang was created, what lies within a black hole, and whether we could actually travel at the speed of light. The introvert, shy, and phobic personality has always limited my ability to move forward, engage with people, and even confront anxieties. As a result, I was intended to work at an observatory so that I could analyze some of the data and make useful discoveries without having to leave my comfort zone. However, in 2019, I was awarded a scholarship to attend Advanced Space Academy: Space Camp, a program that trains and allows children to spend a week as astronauts. "How long are you going to hold on to your fears?" the strength in me said at that time. I recognized that there should be a day when I venture outside of my comfort zone and face my fears in order to live life fearlessly and wholeheartedly. Since that day, I've aspired to be an astronaut who explores space and the wonders of the cosmos firsthand. This is a big dream for a girl like myself from Sri Lanka (a lovely Indian island) who doesn't have many opportunities to pursue a career in space. As a result, I took the initial step by choosing Aerospace Engineering to be my major. I am always on the seek for chances such as contests and scholarships to help fund my education. I entered a contest called dearMoon- 1st All Civilian Mission to Moon in the beginning of this year, which chose 8 people to go on a mission to the moon. Out of the five stages of the competition, I made it to the fourth stage. This taught me that if we put in the effort and thought, we can achieve anything, and that even if life isn't always about winning, we can learn a lot from our toughest hardships. Every day, as a student dealing with financial difficulties, I encounter a slew of mentally challenging difficulties. The only thing that motivates and excites me to keep going is hope. I do not want to give up because I want to see the yield of all the hardwork. Education is the most powerful weapon and I want to use it for the well-being of the society and world. Following the space camp experience, I discovered how many younger Sri Lankan kids had been inspired. I recognize that achieving my goal will have a rippling impact in my community. My educational attainment has the potential to improve the lives of many people in society. To give back to the community, I want to make the most of the resources I have. Thus, I want to continue inspiring people through the knowledge and experience I would gain. Digital Portfolio: https://bit.ly/2YyzkhH

I'm Sandali Kumarasinghe from Sri Lanka, and I'm now enrolled at Broward College in Florida as an international online student. In the year 2020, I started college. It was going okay at first, but with the epidemic and everything, it's been extremely difficult for me and my family. Financial difficulties have plagued me for the past two years, and I've considered dropping out of college because of them. My family consists of me, my mother, my father, and my younger sister, and we are from a middle-class Sri Lankan (a small island in south Asia) household. It is difficult to subsist in Sri Lanka with only one parent working, so my father had to work abroad while my mom ran a small grocery store. My father has lived in Qatar, a country in the Middle East, for nearly 16 years just to pay off our debts and sustain our finances. At the time of writing, I must pay a college semester fee of $1750 by July 25th. I applied for more than 20 scholarships at the moment, in the hope of helping my father financially. I can't afford to miss out on my college experience due to financial constraints because I'm the first in my family to graduate and the first female to obtain an engineering degree.

My favorite scientist is Neil deGrasse Tyson. He's also a physicist and an astrophysicist. I saw the NatGeo documentary series presented by Dr. Tyson in 2014. It was a watershed moment in my life since it sparked my interest in astrophysics and cosmology. I wrote to him about my interest in space and conveyed my gratitude and admiration for his efforts in space/science advocacy, and he responded with an autograph and some encouraging remarks.