The feeling of the raging wind rushing around you…
The brief yet lasting moments of gazing up into the sky, anxiously looking for any sign of your spacecraft…
The absolute thrill of watching the seconds tick away on your stopwatch…
There truly is nothing like rocketry.
Participating in the American Rocketry Challenge was an experience that I will never forget. How often do you get a chance to go out to the field and launch projectiles in the sky? Of course, there is more to it than just the flights. What truly fascinated me is the sheer amount of engineering and thought that goes behind perfecting the design for the rocket and what is needed to ensure a successful flight. I was absolutely enthralled with the fact that I would be utilizing the skills that I acquired from my science and math classes. This was a giant leap for me as a student since I was finally stepping away from the textbook “real-world application” problems and actually implementing these facilities outside of school. This effectively brought to light my problem-solving and critical thinking skills that I had only used subconsciously and thus created a productive learning environment in which I found immense joy.
But my growth in these elements was not the only aspect that benefited from this experience. From the get-go, I learned that teamwork and communication were vital to accomplish anything; I cannot fathom how anything can function smoothly otherwise. It truly was a bonding experience for my teammates and me when we encountered several problems. As time progressed, we worked cooperatively and employed each member’s talents to determine who was the designated parachute folder, egg caretaker, wind checker, etc. Soon enough, we were operating like a well-oiled machine.
Because of TARC, I have a plethora of enriching experiences and lively memories to carry with me in my future endeavors and to look back on with a fond smile. I really have learned a lot from my teammates and our mentor (shoutout to the amazing Mr. Sev!) and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for us!
So with all that being said…5…4…3…2…1…Launch!
