Chasing the Lights: A Journey Toward the Stars by Olivia

Chasing the Lights: A Journey Toward the Stars by Olivia - March 2025 Scholarship Essay

Green, pink, and purple swirls in the sky, like brushstrokes dancing across a canvas. The Northern Lights, a beautiful astronomical phenomenon of solar wind particles colliding with Earth’s magnetosphere, creating bursts of light. I trace my finger across a photo of the aurora borealis in my textbook, following each ribbon of light. I was a bored nine-year-old, trying to complete my reading comprehension page as fast as possible before going to the park. The bright color on the page caught my attention and I found myself wanting to learn more. From that day forward, I vowed to myself I would see those lights one day; my first real goal for my future self.

Due to a strong geomagnetic storm, the Northern Lights were visible in Connecticut last October. I rushed outside in the cold to catch them. The sheer awe I felt when the sky above me was bathed in bright pinks and greens was immeasurable. I was breathless, the sight of something so beautiful from outer space left me without words. I want to feel that feeling again, spend my life studying space and learning what other amazing things are out there, just outside of my reach.

Ten years from now, I envision myself as an engineer, applying my civil or mechanical engineering degree to help advance space exploration. I see myself contributing to projects that push the boundaries of what we know, designing systems and structures that make the seemingly impossible possible. I imagine being a part of a team that creates the technology that enables humans to venture deeper into outer space. I see a life for myself where I am content, financially stable, and satisfied by the knowledge that my work is part of something larger than myself.

My education will be the foundation that makes this dream come true. Through hands-on projects, collaborative problem-solving, trial and error, and rigorous coursework, I will gain the technical skills and critical thinking needed to tackle engineering challenges to come. Internships and research opportunities will allow me to apply what I learn in a real-world setting, preparing me for my future career. Every mistake I make, every lecture I attend, and every late-night study session I have will help shape me into an engineer capable of turning ambitious ideas into reality.

In many ways, the Northern Lights were more than just a childhood fascination. They were the spark that set my future in motion. They ignited a sense of wonder and curiosity that continues to drive me to this day. As I pursue my education and work toward a career in engineering, I carry that same sense of awe with me. It reminds me why I strive to explore, to innovate, and to contribute to something greater than myself. One day, I hope to help unlock the mysteries of the universe, just as that first glimpse of the aurora borealis unlocked a dream within me.