Today was an ordinary day in our classroom. Except it wasn’t. We were finishing up some Weebly websites we’re building, working on some research about mysteries from the past, and went outside to launch an Air Powered Rocket just before the temps fell. Then we went inside. The phone rang.
“Hello, Krissy? We have a call we’re holding from NASA for you.” It was good news. Great news actually. The application my team had put together for the Reduced Gravity Flight Program was accepted. Our experiment will be done in our classroom with our students and then we’ll take it to Houston aboard the Zero G plane and test it out in a weightless environment.
This experience, alone, means so much to me. For so many reasons. Because we live in a small town. Because I get to share in it with members from my Advanced Space Academy Team. Because people think NASA has “closed.” Because science is so cool that I want to share it with the world.
But, to my kids?
They knew I had applied, and not been accepted, once before. They were excited that we were reapplying. I hope this was an example to them, much as the “Never Give Up,” posters we hang in our schools, of the way to live your life. I hope today was a reminder for them to never, ever quit trying. That getting a rejection letter, or not making the team, or having to try again isn’t the end. It’s an opportunity. Because learning that? It’s one of the most important lessons I can teach in my classroom. I hope they saw that in my smile today.
