Shooting for the Stars by David

Shooting for the Stars by David - August 2025 Scholarship Essay

When I joined the Georgetown rocketry club, I expected to enjoy the sight of model rockets racing into the sky. Instead, I found myself fascinated by what happened before launch. I spent late nights soldering circuits, wiring sensors, and programming microcontrollers to record altitude, temperature, and pressure during flight. The precision required was thrilling and exciting. A poorly placed item could mean losing all our flight data. Compared to the soft matter physics research on gels I was doing at the time, this was a different world, one where the success of an experiment depended not just on theory but on what we built.
That experience shaped the way I think about science. I began to see instruments not as background support but as the enabling technology that determines what questions can be asked and answered. Building circuits for our rockets gave me a taste of how engineering and physics combine to turn curiosity into measurable results. It also set the stage for my academic path.
Now, as I transfer to Case Western Reserve University, my primary goal is to join an experimental astrophysics research group where I can contribute directly to instrument design. I want to apply my electrical engineering skills to create devices that capture signals in space or track the information myself as a physicist. At Sears Think[box], I plan to develop prototypes such as sensors for high-altitude research or detectors. I will seek out student engineering teams such as rocketry or aerospace clubs where I can collaborate on building hardware that may one day fly or orbit.
My academic plan is clear. I will enroll in advanced circuits and instrumentation courses, maintain a high GPA, and complete the training needed to use Think[box] facilities fully. Within the first two months, I will apply to join at least one lab and volunteer for small projects to demonstrate my commitment. Each semester, I will aim to complete one working prototype of the project I am working on and apply for internships related to aerospace instrumentation.
A major opportunity I will hopefully pursue this year is an internship at the NASA Glenn Research Center, located near Case Western Reserve University. NASA Glenn’s focus on spaceflight systems and scientific instrumentation is directly aligned with my interests. An internship there would let me apply my skills to problems at the top of space exploration while learning from engineers who design equipment that operates in some of the most challenging environments imaginable.
My motivation comes from a mix of personal history and intellectual drive. Growing up as a first-generation college student, I learned early that resources are limited and opportunities must be earned. I repaired computers for neighbors, troubleshot car wiring, and built small electronics projects because they were challenges I could take on with the tools I had. Those early projects taught me the value of careful work, persistence, and finding practical solutions with limited materials. At the same time, I spent many nights under rural skies, wondering about the stars and wished we could understand them better.
Being first-generation means I carry both responsibility and perspective. I know what it means for a family to sacrifice so one member can reach further. That awareness pushes me to make efficient use of my time, to be deliberate in my priorities, and to turn opportunities into results. I also want to use my experiences to mentor a student that I know in my hometown as they apply to college for the first time, showing them that first-generation status is not a barrier to scientific achievement.
In the long term, my aim is to contribute instruments that make astrophysics research more accessible and effective. Experimental astrophysics depends on tools that are reliable, precise, and often custom-built. By mastering the design of electronics for sensors and readout systems, I can help lower barriers to participation in research and open new measurement possibilities. Whether the target is a pulsar, an exoplanet, or high-energy neutrinos, I want to be part of the team that makes the observation possible.
This coming year at Case Western Reserve University is my opportunity to take that ambition from plan to practice. I arrive with technical skills, research experience, and the determination to push each project to completion. Through lab work, prototyping at Think[box], and pursuing internships, I will sharpen my engineering abilities while building tools that can help us better understand the universe. Curiosity may be my starting point but consistent effort will be the way I turn it into discovery.