Hey! We’re getting super close to the trip and I am thrilled out of my mind! The weekend before is my only down time I’ve had in weeks. I’ve been volunteering at the Carnegie Science Center running their “FabLab” Camps which are engineering camps. It’s been super fun meeting new people who are shocked out of their mind to hear of where I’m going. Being there made me even more thrilled to learn at the International Science School and bring all that knowledge back with me to share.
One of the biggest things I can’t wait to do is meet the other scholars. I’ve genuinely never been on a plane and worse never been in a different time zone. There’s so many people, cultures, and places out there that I haven’t gotten a chance to see yet. I just know I’m going to make some friends for life!!! There is so many new places I’ll get to explore and foods I will get to try. I’m definitely going to try something insane while I’m there, something I’ll never have a chance to try again.
Packing has been crazy. I spent an entire day going through all of my clothes sorting them into big day piles and folding them. I’ve been on trips with my band, but this is another level. I cannot imagine how Michelle does this all the time when she travels for all the things she does. Seriously hats off to you. I’m terrified I will forget something or pack too much or just mess it up somehow, but with my family helping it’s a lot easier.
Going on the trip I’m going to miss weeks of summer band. The people there are some of my best friends. Even the people I barely know would help me with anything I need. I’m proud to be a part of that group and even prouder to bring back what I learn to all of them. The youngest in the group are 13. At that age I didn’t know much of anything about what I wanted in life. I want to inspire and become a mentor to the kids who want to learn and grow. I really want to come back to my favorite 200 something people and give them someone to look up to. It will be the first time I’ve missed band for anything, but I know they will do amazing things and be completely different when I get back. I’ll see them for the last time on July 1, which is super sad since we won’t be together again till July 27. Still, I believe in all of them. I can’t wait to be back at football games giggling like in this picture shown above.
I’m really excited to share my experience with my teacher when I get back to school for my senior year in August. They have been super supportive and kind every step of the way. One of my teachers has a little girl who dreams of being an astronaut and I hope she can see that doing great things that can get her there, like going to the International Science School, are in the cards for her. If she works hard she can absolutely make her dreams come true. I’m proud to represent my school in all that it has done for me and taught me.
The STEM challenges will be really exciting. I’ve taken almost all of the engineering classes, am an officer of the club, and go on all of the STEM field trips I can. I love to problem solve. From what I’ve heard of them they sound super fun. Working on teams to create something is always an amazing experience that I never turn down. It’s just amazing that I get to do it with scholars from all around the globe and at the University of Sydney. I know I won’t win every challenge or maybe even any, but a little competition is just sooooo fun!!!!! I love being pushed to do bigger and better things. It will be AMAZING.
The Americans get to participate in a talent show as a team and we are so hyped to do it. Being up on stage isn’t something I do a lot other than concerts since I’m usually in the back running light. Still, it’s going to be hilarious and a memory I will cherish for life.
Written by Stellar Student Raine Dickinson
