WHY NOT ME?
Written by Priya Abiram
When I was seven years old, I was convinced I was going to space.
I didn’ t know how. I didn’ t even know what a rocket was. I wore blankets around my neck like a cape— convinced I could fly— and jumped off beds, cabinets, counters, and basically any surface in my house that was elevated. I do not recommend trying this. I sprained my ankle. But honestly, I would probably do it again.
That same year, my family visited Florida and stopped at NASA’ s public museum. That was the first time I ever saw a real rocket. I remember staring straight up and thinking, what are these things that touch the sky?
The tour guide explained that rockets are the hardest machines humans have ever built. And it is even harder to fly in them. Later that day, an astronaut gave a talk. I remember looking at him and thinking something very simple and very powerful. If he went to space, why couldn’ t I?
SPRING 2026— ISSUE NO. 14 | 9