Izabel – Space Is For All

Izabel, TechGirls 2024, Albania

Have you ever missed an opportunity because you were too afraid to step out of your comfort zone? Well, I almost did! I applied to TechGirls, but in my mind, I never thought I would become a finalist. Then, one afternoon, I opened my email and saw: CONGRATULATIONS!! I celebrated with my family, but soon after, doubts crept in: how was I supposed to make so many friends as an introvert? But as soon as I stepped onto the plane to meet my regional friends, I realized how wrong I was. When I arrived in the USA, I saw that making friends was much easier than I’d imagined, especially when you share common interests and a passion for changing the world. These are the kinds of friends who will root for you forever and push you to become the best version of yourself. Now, as I’m writing this, I realize that I’ve been scattered into 100 pieces, each one in a different continent. When someone mentions a country, I think, “Oh, my friend lives there!” and I feel like a citizen of that place too. I never knew what it meant to be a global citizen, but now I definitely am!

I can say that TechGirls made me believe that even the wildest dream can become reality! I’ve always wanted to be an astronaut and a scientist, but coming from a small country with few opportunities in the field of astronomy, everyone told me to just give up on my dream. But my mindset changed in the US at moments like these: when I went to NASA and saw what I had been seeing for years only through my phone, when a Legacy International representative told NASA’s scientists, “Here is our future astrophysicist from Albania,” when my RA and Regional Coordinator told me, “See you at NASA,” when my teacher said, “I see a scientist inside you,” and every time my fellow TechGirls texted me, “Hey, little astronaut!” All these people believe I can do it, so now I’m working harder to make them proud. The support from my VT professors, my Regional Coordinator, and all the RAs has made all the difference. Also my job shadow was at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and there I definitely saw my dreams aim higher with each airplane taking off.

Returning to Albania, I knew I wanted to inspire young kids the same way my friends and teachers inspired me in the US. I didn’t want to take the opportunity that had been given to me for granted—I wanted to create opportunities for others and help them believe that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. That’s why I created Space for All (SFA). Just as SFA’s name says, space has a place for everyone, no matter where they’re from! I teach kids about STEM, create mini solar systems, and run other hands-on projects to spark their curiosity about space. We also stargaze together using my Celestron. I’m also launching a new program at AC Vlora called STEM Gals to inspire young girls to believe that even the sky isn’t the limit! When I talk about the universe, I see a spark in the kids’ eyes, a spark that gives me an even bigger goal: to open the first observatory in Albania by 2035.
I don’t know if I will become a physicist or astronaut in the future, but for whatever I’ll do, one thing is for sure. Among the things I will be thankful for, one of them is the TechGirls program, for believing in me and where I stepped into my future! Thank you for changing my life!