Describe what you did during your internship:

Most of my programming involved space-themed summer camps, both full-day and half-day. Each week covered different topics: planets, stars, meteors, and space travel challenges. Activities included building a to-scale solar system, creating water filters, simulating a Mars mission with a budget, and engineering spacecraft like balloon-powered rockets and lunar landers. I tailored the level of detail depending on the group’s interest.

I also ran a one-day Space Career Workshop, where I introduced kids to various space-related careers beyond being an astronaut, such as physics, engineering, computer science, and more. I emphasized the wide range of opportunities in space exploration.

Additionally, I compiled research on three main topics: the similarities between Antarctica and Mars/Lunar surfaces, meteorites found in Antarctica (including those with potential evidence of past life on Mars), and the Gateway, Artemis, and Orion missions, which represent the future of space exploration.

Did you achieve your goals?

My goals mainly consisted of successfully leading NASA-related programming and learning more about STEM education. As previously stated I lead many programs successfully. When it comes to STEM education, there were many parts of STEM education that I was previously unaware of. I had to learn how to plan developmentally appropriate lessons and activities depending on the age group. I also had to adapt and change activities based on what I felt was appropriate for each group of students. I also had to learn to manage a classroom with up to 20 kids. I got better at answering their questions in simple ways, even when the question had an extremely complex answer. Overall, I got much better at teaching and managing kids in a STEM education setting.

Describe positive lessons learned:

I most importantly learned more about myself during this internship. Upon personal reflection, I learned that working in this setting is exhausting for me, which in turn helped me realize my future should not consist of this same environment. I now know that I adore teaching, yet I do not love teaching young children. I also learned how to effectively manage classrooms and teach in engaging ways. Additionally, I got better at time management and professional communication with peers.

Describe negative lessons learned:

Overall, I had a wonderful experience like I have described. Despite this, I got overwhelmed easily during camps with many difficult students. Although it wasn’t noticeable, by the end of the day I was mentally exhausted. I struggled to send kids home who had behaved in a way more than warranting a call home. I had a lot of empathy for all of the kids and hoped they would behave with time; this wasn’t the case. Regardless, this internship was still very enjoyable for me.

What was the impact of this internship?

This internship affected both my knowledge of STEM education, but also clarified my path. Sometimes you need to experience things outside of your comfort zone to understand the path you are meant to follow. Originally, I believed I would like to be a professor at a university. This experience clarified for me how much joy I find in teaching. Looking back, my favorite part of this internship was answering all of the obscure questions kids had, and watching their curiosity grow. However, I do not see myself teaching groups of kids in the future. I would much prefer being in an environment of only teaching instead of managing a classroom as well. I have thought about starting to tutor, as I thoroughly enjoy helping students learn. While I was compiling research for the Putnam, I also realized that I love research, and working in research is a very viable path for me as well.