What do you want to do with your life?

Ever since I have known that an evening sky exists, has been the time since I have known about my passion for the stars. As a young girl, I used to lie out in the backyard and gaze out into the everlasting evening sky. I was in awe over their beauty and radiance. On my seventh birthday, my parents had bought me a collection of astronomy books packed with what I knew would help me discover what I loved. Every night me and my dad would sit down together and read thoroughly about a new planet’s characteristics. Within a few short weeks, I had finished the volumes. When Christmas came around, my parents bought me a telescope. I was ecstatic. My father and I dressed ourselves in winter coats and set my telescope out on the driveway. The moon was half full which, like the books had indicated, is an ideal time to view its craters. We spent well over two hours admiring the moon that night. The reflections of the craters which my telescope provided were spectacular. For that particular moment in time, I felt like I was on the moon; I felt complete; I felt a joy that I had not known exist.

As I grew older, I had a chance to speak to many people who were also once passionate about astronomy. Many told me about the schooling requirements: four to ten years of university studies, followed by ten to fifteen years as a lab assistant, and ten more years as an astronomer assistant. Once you had completed all the necessary necessities you than become a certified astronomer. My dreams seemed to have vanished within seconds. Crushed, utterly discouraged. I did not want to be forty years old by the time I achieved what I desired. In turn, I took my dream ambition and locked it in a box; I put it on hold. I told myself that I would not be an astronomer. I would keep astronomy as a hobby.

To this day I have done just that. My life career choice is now to be a pediatrician. Though the two passions may seem oddly extreme to one another, they are both heartfelt fascinations which I long for.

Children are exceptionally innocent. I have always adored them. When I am having a tough day, a child’s innocent laugh and gaze always makes my lips want to sway into the form of a smile. I do not want a child to ever loose its love of life. Because of this reason, I want to be a pediatrician to help them express and know love even in times of health illness’. Even though I may not follow my initial ambition, it is not a passion that I ever plan to abandon. I do not feel any hesitation to pursue the medical field, as I feel no regret to let astronomy be my second best. Either as a hobby or as a minor in post secondary education, astronomy will always be one of my most sought out dreams. In the meanwhile, the children down in the pediatrics wing will keep my heart everlastingly loving and my passions thriving