When I was little, I remember sitting in the backseat of the car, staring out into the night sky. Gazing at the celestial bodies, I would ponder the planets and the stars and the sheer vastness of the universe we live in. I found it so interesting to step out of my little life for a moment and think about how we are all one small part of something so much bigger than ourselves. So much bigger, it’s hard to even fathom. My passion for space and curiosity for the world beyond our world never ceased, and I can’t wait to continue learning, growing, and asking more questions.
My name is Josie Choulat, and I’m a student in the Cambridge AICE (Advanced International Certificate of Education) program at Ridgeview High School in Orange Park, Florida (about half an hour from Jacksonville). For the past three years, I’ve participated in the STEM competition at my local fair. The Superintendent of the competition is affiliated with 4H, and last year she let me know that 4H and Higher Orbits had collaborated to host an overnight Go For Launch! event in Gainesville, Florida. I jumped at the opportunity to apply, and was delighted when I discovered that I had been selected. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I packed my bags and hoped for the best.
My experience at Go For Launch! was nothing short of outstanding. From the get-go, I found Ms. Michelle to be a captivating and interesting speaker. I enjoyed hearing her story and admired her spirit of always staying true to herself. Also, listening to the amazing astronaut, Ms. Nicole Stott, was truly inspiring. On top of that, getting to ask her questions as my team and I brainstormed, developed, and finalized our experiment proposal was an out-of-this-world experience. I appreciated how Ms. Michelle led us through the process instead of overwhelming us all at once. For instance, I received meaningful presentational feedback through other activities before our final experiment proposal. Although my experiment did not win, I gained valuable experience and learned so much from Ms. Michelle, Ms. Nicole, my teammates, and other teams as well. At the end of the second day, I decided to thank Ms. Nicole and Ms. Michelle personally for their wonderful talks and guidance. I remember Ms. Michelle saying, “This won’t be your last experience with Higher Orbits, right?” I shook my head no, but in reality, I wasn’t sure at the time. Almost a year later, I am stoked to say that Go For Launch! in Gainesville was just the beginning.
Higher Orbits has given me the opportunity to attend the 12th Annual Space Traffic Conference at UT in Austin, Texas, this February, and I couldn’t be more excited! First of all, I can’t wait to learn about new research and discoveries, particularly surrounding reusable satellites and ways to minimize space debris. Just last year, I won first place at my district science fair for my project in environmental engineering. I think everything should be done with our planet in mind, and I’m super excited to learn how we can make space travel more sustainable.
Additionally, I can’t wait to meet the other Higher Orbits students and hear about their space journeys and future goals. Although I’m a bit nervous to speak on a panel, I think it’s extremely cool that I am getting the opportunity to be taken seriously, to share my passion for space, and to represent the organization that made it possible for me to attend this conference in the first place. Another reason I am thrilled to experience this conference is the chance to network with other students and industry professionals who are just as excited about aerospace as I am! I am so grateful to Higher Orbits for the opportunity I had to network at Go For Launch! in Gainesville and now the even bigger opportunity I have to network at the Space Traffic Conference. These connections will be my future employers and colleagues, and I can’t wait to get to know everyone! Space traffic is a wide field, and it affects both the economy and politics. I am intrigued to learn about the newest policy on space traffic regulations, and what that means for both government-owned and privately-owned space companies.
Last but not least, I am excited to hear from all the different sectors of the space industry. I know I want to work within the field of astronomy/aerospace; however, I am still unsure of exactly what career I want. I believe that this conference will give me more insight as to all of the jobs available within the space industry, and I am super excited to learn from everyone I encounter! I thank Higher Orbits once again for granting me this magical opportunity, and I can’t wait to experience everything it has to offer!
Written By Stellar Student Josie Choulat
