And suddenly, the kids are dreaming again.
When I was in elementary school, the teacher would ask us one simple question.
‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’
Many hands were raised, without permission, they started to overlap each other’s voices.
‘A doctor!’ one would say, ‘a policeman!’ the other follows, ‘an astronaut!’ and so on.
Kids were dreaming big back then. However nowadays, it’s less and less common for children to dreaming to be an explorer of the world. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, I think it’s still a good thing kids have a dream to look forward for something in life.
I found plenty of little kids who are obsessed with dinosaurs and spaceships. Or role-playing as doctor and patients or teacher and students, and still collecting doll-houses and barbies.
I got reminded of my childhood yet again. The times where I wanted to be everything and convinced maybe someday I will. But reality isn’t always in your favor.
A lot of them out-grew their dreams as they got older and technology advanced.
Including me. I have a phase in my life where I was convinced I will be a movie director someday, but as days went by, I realized it’s not something I wanted to do forever.
I remember the times I was thinking of becoming an engineer. But I wasn’t that interested either. I just thought it was cool because a character in a TV show I watched when I was in middle school.
And one day, I got caught up in the contents of NASA’s newest mission, Artemis II.
It’s not uncommon for children to be amused by space and rockets, I’ve always been fascinated whenever stars and the moon show up; stars blinking as if they were dancing among the darkness.
I count them with my hands as my mother told me about moon phases. Sometimes it’s more than other nights, sometimes it’s less.
Looking up in the sky, I used to think they were so far away.
Do humans actually be able to reach that? It feels surreal to think about the idea of stepping on the moon, isn’t it?
But what is the use of eight billion of us here if not to answer that question?
Artemis II, the most recent NASA’s spaceship mission just landed safely in the Pacific Ocean on April 11 2026. The mission blows the internet, gaining attention from all ages across generations. Consist of four incredible astronauts: Reid Wiseman, The Commander. Victor Glover, The Pilot. And Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen as Mission Specialists.
Those are the most qualified people chosen for this mission. However, to the internet, one of them stood out.
Christina Koch, the first woman to orbit the moon.
It’s inspiring for many girls and women around the world, because she proved that we can; women really can do anything.
It’s an unfortunate truth that even though over the years women has proved the society they’re capable of doing a good — even sometimes better work at male dominated fields, we are still being often underestimated.
But she proved them wrong. She went to space and got to see the dark side of the moon up close.
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I read the comments, and many women there were inspired to pursue their dreams because of Christina Koch. Pursing one’s dream that they were scared or unsure to do before. Promise to make their little self proud of them.
And not just them, because I was too. I was terrified of my future. Of what I will end up becoming. I dreamed to be so many things at the same time, I’m afraid of become nothing.
I already applied for college, but for months I was unsure of my decision. I was convinced I should’ve take a gap year and go somewhere overseas. But it was impossible, many and many things I must consider before even thinking that.
I’m scared that I will take the wrong path and ended up working just for money, and not myself.
Many nights I spent thinking about who I am. And what I enjoy doing.
I was thinking arts. Maybe film school? Many were more ambitious than I am. They showed their passion early on, showing that they had their mind settled on the thing I don’t spend most of my time thinking about.
Also, theatre isn’t something you can do for a lifetime. It’s arguable, sure, but to me, I don’t really see a future there aside from being one of the hobbies I enjoy doing.
I’m not the brightest in class. I’m not the smartest, or the winner on every competition. But rather, I’m the shy kid who won’t talk unless they approached me first.
For someone who knows me since kindergarten, even elementary or middle school, must’ve know what kind of person I am.
I don’t enjoy big crowds, or small talks. I hate loud people and pressuring environment.
Even in elementary school, I mostly talk to my teacher rather than my classmates.
It was career day at school and me and my friends were talking. She then mentioned a career I’ve never thought was an option before.
Anthropologist.
I took an anthropology class in high school and I loved it. But I never considered it until that second. And I never realized how much I love learning about new cultures and languages from around the world and meeting new people and have new perspective on things.
However it isn’t a recommended career path. In the country I live in, not many people were interested in the subject. And there isn’t many job related to the subject. Unless you go overseas. Even though there’s only a slight difference in job offer and pay.
It’s true, I thought. I never think it’s worth considering, even though I really wanted to pursue a career in anthropology if I could.
But upon seeing the inspiring videos of The Artemis II mission and Christina Koch, I wanted to believe in it again.
And after many hours of researching, I found it.
I found the person I wanted to be.
Even though I hated the thought of talking to many people and working in the environment where I required to be social, I never realized how much I actually enjoyed doing it.
Do I have my future figure out? Maybe not. Will this thought of becoming an anthropologist last forever? I really hope it will because I want to do this. This is the thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
I will beat every odds working against my favor in pursuing this career.
And thank you, Artemis II and Christina Koch for being the reason for me to believe in myself again.
For my fellow women and girls out there who hasn’t believed in their potential, whatever it is, we are capable of doing it.
You just have to start doing it.
