Dinner on the Moon – Or Close to It by Samantha

Dinner on the Moon – Or Close to It by Samantha - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

If I had the chance to sit down with Neil Armstrong, I think I would initially be struck dumb, unable to form a coherent thought in my mind in the presence of such an accomplished individual. What other human being in the history of mankind can claim to be the first to step onto the moon? Not only does Neil Armstrong's achievement symbolize the progress and evolution of mankind as a whole, but it also gives me inspiration to strive to reach my goals even whether everyone else claims it is impossible.

One question that I would be bursting to ask is, "How did you keep your fears in check in the face of such extreme uncertainty?" After all, Armstrong had no way of truly knowing whether his spacesuit would actually protect him from getting sucked into a space vacuum – I want to know what prompted him to take that first step into the unknown. Whatever his response, I'm guessing that our conversation would only serve to inspire me to face the unknowns in my own life head-on, even when my legs freeze up and my fears try to hold me prisoner.

So, if I had the chance to meet Neil Armstrong, I would be over the moon. And whenever I try to shy away from taking that step out of my comfort zone, I would think of him and of all the tenacity and courage that it took to take that first small step. Then, I'll take a deep breath, and do the same.