The End . . . For Now

Hello, dear reader! I have several updates for you:

1. I presented my senior project - watch me explain the beautiful phenomena of outer space & answer a variety of fun questions here!

2. I graduated from BASIS Independent Silicon Valley & in a little over a month, I will be headed to UCLA to study computer science.

I still remember how conflicted I felt at the beginning of the senior project process. I loved CS & its many capabilities, but I was also deeply in love with space. Combining my love of these two subjects is not as easy as I thought it would be - from endless probing questions by my college interviewers who were extremely skeptical of the relationship between space exploration & CS to the many well-meaning authority figures who tell me to "focus only on CS & then worry about exploring other subjects" I have had many experiences challenge my belief in CS's ability to contribute to space exploration.

I've been pushed & pulled in so many directions over the past few months. Some people tell me all of my dreams are possible & I should strive to achieve them, while others tell me to be more realistic & focus on CS - after all, if I enjoy it & it will give me stability in life, why bother wasting my energy pursuing anything else at the same time?

I still don't know where I stand. I have no doubt I want to study CS for the next four years, but I cannot deny that space is the love of my life & always will be. There are some things in life you accept without fully understanding them - I love my family. I love my best friend. My favorite color is black. For me, my love of space is one of these facts - no matter how much I try to explain how I feel, I will always run out of words attempting to do so.

CS is part of my future - that is something I know for certain. However, space has to be in my life too. To me, there is no greater challenge or more fascinating mystery out there than the large, beautiful, terrifying universe we live in.

I don't know how or if I'll combine these two interests. I don't know whether I'll major in Astrophysics at UCLA. I don't know if I'll end up getting a job in the space exploration industry. However, I can say with confidence that the skepticism about my goals I've observed over the past few months has in no way deterred me - if anything, it's only inspired me to make my dreams a reality.

My dreams may be possible, but they'll require the work. This senior project & senior year have shown me that I'm willing to do all the work it takes to achieve what I want.

Thank you, Professor Raja, for showing me how frustrating yet ultimately worthwhile it is to attempt to understand the cosmos. Thank you, Mr. Hrin, for supporting the dynamic & enlightening experience that was my senior project. Thank you, Rena, for listening to me wrestle with dark matter. Thank you, Sara & Claire, for listening to all of my rants about space. Thank you to everyone who has supported my love of space over the years. I promise I won't let any of you down.

My senior project may be over, but my exploration of space has just begun - and when I succeed, it will be one cosmic phenomenon you won't want to miss.

#update #reflection