Less than 20% of Americans can gaze at a starry night sky, untainted by city lights.
Living in and attending school in a rural community comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. The academic rigor may differ from urban counterparts, and the range of learning opportunities and college preparatory resources may be narrower. Yet, rural students shouldn't be at a disadvantage for post-secondary education and career paths. Their experiences often equip them with skills and perspectives that enrich college applications, make them competitive for scholarships, and prepare them for the workforce.
When rural students compare their academic credentials and test scores to those of urban and suburban peers, they may feel intimidated. It's tempting to focus on perceived deficiencies, but this overlooks the immense value of real-world education gained by living and learning in a close-knit community.
Rural students have spent their lives under starry skies, surrounded by the bumps and challenges of rural life. They've witnessed harvest moons and endured droughts. They've seen how interconnected a community can be and how individuals must work together to overcome obstacles. They've had opportunities to contribute meaningfully, whether by assisting a neighbor, participating in 4-H or FFA, taking on responsibilities in a family business, or working in industry.
I bring this up because this week I completed the Colorado Space Business Roundtable summer internship, an aerospace program that gives rural students exposure to industry and vice versa.
During this internship, I gained key takeaways:
🚀 Diverse Perspectives Drive Innovation: Working with people from various backgrounds can lead to creative solutions.
🚀 Adaptability and Resilience are Crucial: The ability to adapt and bounce back from setbacks is highly valued.
🚀 Practical Skills Matter: Hands-on experiences provide a strong foundation for understanding complex concepts.
🚀 The Importance of Mentorship and Networking: Building connections with professionals can guide and support future growth.
With all this being said, I would like to give a big shoutout to these companies and organizations that made this internship possible, and allowed a group of 50 rural students to dream bigger.
The Aerospace States Association , Lockheed Martin , BAE Systems, Astroscale, Advanced Space, United Launch Alliance (ULA), Red Canyon Engineering & Software, Sierra Space, University of Colorado Boulder, CSU Spur, Trimble Inc.
It's been a great summer so far! Looking forward to more!