The Girl who Reached for the Stars
Simone was a young girl with an affinity for the stars. She spent countless nights with a telescope in her backyard, marvelling at the beauty of the cosmos. Her father had sparked this passion in her when he took her stargazing for the first time on her eighth birthday. As time passed, her dreams of reaching the stars only intensified and soon, she aspired to become an astronaut.
Four years after her father's passing, Simone was accepted into the prestigious Stanford University, studying Physics and Astronomy. One of Simone's favourite places on campus was Pigott Observatory. Here, she spent hours after classes, absorbing herself into the magnificence of the great cosmic play.
One day, a notice arrived. NASA was organizing a contest for university students, offering an internship to the winners. Simone was thrilled and set her sights on winning this contest. The contest involved a series of complex problems related to space-time and astrophysics. Simone prepared days and nights, until her eyes bled with fatigue, but she never surrendered.
Finally, it was the day of the contest. Her heartbeat echoed in the halls as her name was announced. Taking a deep breath, she allowed herself a moment of pause, before diving into the challenging problems waiting for her. After several hours of rigorous assessments, it ended.
Days passed, but Simone did not receive a reply from NASA. She was heartbroken but determined to keep trying. One night, while sitting at her favourite spot in the observatory, she gazed at the constellation Orion and remembered her father's words, 'Simone, we, just like stars, have a time to shine. All we need are patience, passion, and resilience.' His soothing voice echoed, filling her with renewed spirit.
Simone did not lose hope and continued her studies with even more fervour. Another year passed. It was again the time for the NASA competition. Simone once again decided to participate. This time she was prepared, having a year's worth of knowledge and experiences.
On the day of the competition, she felt a familiar pounding in her chest but was calmer and more focused than before. Solving the problems felt seamless. She was not just attempting the problems. She was feeling, understanding, and living them. She mentally thanked her father, feeling his spirit beside her.
Once again, the result day arrived. She opened her mailbox and felt her heart skip a beat seeing a letter with the NASA logo. With bated breath and trembling hands, she opened the letter. Reading the first line, tears started to fall, 'Dear Simone, Congratulations!' her vision blurred with tears of joy.
The internship at NASA was a wonderful experience. Each day she felt closer to her dream of reaching the stars. During her time there, she was reminded of the beauties and wonders of the cosmos, its mysteries and enigmas, and her small yet significant place within it.
At the end of her internship, she stood under the open sky, watching the stars, just like she used to do in her backyard. Nostalgia rushed over her. She whispered into the wind, 'Thank you, Dad. This is for you.'
Simone's story serves as a beautiful reminder of the power of resilience, of following our dreams tirelessly and passionately, finding strength in our inner light, and shining through, even when the stars seem out of reach.