About Me

Hello Earthlings! My name is Shelby Morse, and I’m interning with Higher Orbits this summer, focusing on social media content creation, article writing, and blogging. This fall, I’ll begin my senior year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where I’m majoring in Communications with minors in Broadcast Meteorology and Business Administration—and I’m also a proud member of the softball team!

I first met Michelle when she guest lectured in my Aerospace Communication class at Embry-Riddle. From that moment, I knew working with her would be a blast! I even joked with my teammates in the class that I would love to intern for her. After completing a project for Michelle as part of our course, she mentioned an internship opportunity—and I jumped at the chance. I’m so grateful to be spending my summer gaining hands-on experience in content creation and the nonprofit world.

Prior to the Event

To be completely transparent, I had no idea what to expect going into the Go For Launch! event in Gainesville. But honestly, that worked in my favor! I didn’t have time to overthink anything. I just showed up, was myself, and gave it my all not just for Michelle, but also for the staff and, most importantly, the students.

I initially assumed the students would simply be working on a space-related project to compete for the chance to send it into orbit. Since I had no prior experience attending a Go For Launch! event, I was blown away by how much these students learned, created, and accomplished in just two days. Before the event, I didn’t know much about space, the ISS, or even astronauts beyond what most people pick up through general knowledge. But then I had the incredible opportunity to spend two days with Astronaut Nicole Stott and, more than anything, a truly inspiring human being.

If you had asked me a year ago if I thought my internship would involve hanging out with a former astronaut, I would’ve laughed and said, “No way—I don’t know much about space or NASA!” Yet there I was, learning from someone who has made profound contributions to humanity. As a young adult navigating the uncertainties of the "real world," hearing her story was not only empowering it reminded me that it’s okay not to have everything figured out at my age.

Day One

Day one began with student introductions, and I was amazed by their diverse backgrounds and interest; from figure skating to fishing to 3D printing. Despite their differences, they shared a common passion: STEM. Their varied experiences brought valuable perspectives to the group work ahead, giving each team unique strengths that could help them succeed in the competition.

Watching them form their teams was fascinating. Because no more than two students from the same town could be in one group, there was a lot of discussion and careful consideration. I overheard one student say, “Hey, I heard you like [shared hobby]—do you want to be in a group together?” It was admirable to see their communication skills already at play, despite many of them being strangers just hours before.

Michelle had the students fully engaged from the very beginning. She sparked a vibrant discussion, not just about space and its history, but also about the ethical implications of AI. It was a critical conversation, especially for students growing up in a world where AI is increasingly influencing their academic lives. They thoughtfully discussed the role of AI in art and debated where the “line” should be drawn when using models like ChatGPT. Michelle clearly wanted to leave a lasting impact beyond space exploration, encouraging respectful debate and deeper thinking.

Later, Astronaut Nicole Stott gave a phenomenal talk—not just about “going to space,” but about the challenges she faced along the way. Her message about perseverance and bouncing back from rejection resonated deeply with me. She shared that her path to becoming an astronaut wasn’t smooth and hearing how she overcame those obstacles was powerful. Even as an intern on the sidelines, I was fully immersed in her story and its relevance to my own journey. Rejection is inevitable, but Nicole reminded me that it doesn’t define your potential, your response does.

One of the biggest highlights of the day was seeing the evolution of the students’ communication skills from their initial introductions to presenting their mission patch designs the next morning. The level of detail in the patches and the explanations behind them were impressive. Each design reflected a mix of creativity and collaboration, with every team member contributing something personal. Their teamwork and ability to articulate their choices set a high standard for their upcoming final presentations.

Though my official role was to capture photos and moments, I often found myself mentally engaged as if I were a student participating in the challenge. It even got me wondering what I would want to send into space and, spoiler alert: I still don’t know!

Day Two

The second day began with Michelle sharing her personal journey, setting a tone of resilience, creativity, and growth. She emphasized that asking for help isn’t a weakness it’s a strength and that taking the first step, like applying for a scholarship or competition, is the only way to know what’s possible.

Next, the students tackled a mission that began as an individual task, but quickly evolved into a team-based challenge. They had to adapt to shifting parameters, listen to one another, and come to agreements while within a time constraint. It was incredible to watch them collaborate under pressure.

Nicole returned to share more insights, including how astronauts often pursue creative hobbies during or after their time in space. It was the perfect segue into the students’ own presentations, reinforcing the idea that individuality is just as valuable in STEM as technical skills. Her message helped students see that they, too, can pursue a unique path.

As the teams presented their final projects, they were tasked with meeting specific criteria and answering questions from Michelle and Nicole. The clarity and substance in their answers were far beyond what I expected from students their age. Their ability to stay composed and articulate under pressure was truly impressive.

Reflecting on my own journey, I didn’t begin to develop solid communication skills until high school. Seeing these students build those tools so early had me in awe and inspired. Their growth from day one to day two was not just visible; it was remarkable. And when the winning team was announced, their excitement was absolutely heartwarming a perfect ending to an astronomically awesome event.