Dreaming Beyond the Universe

Lily – future astronomer

When I grow up I want to be an astronomer and be the first person to discover life on a new planet. This is my dream because I find the universe so interesting and I am willing to think beyond Earth. The universe is full of surprises and I want to uncover them.

I learned about this career from my teachers and family. I like to be outside and look at the stars with my dad. In school I learned that people who study space are astronomers. My family told me more about what they do and I was intrigued.

I like going to school and learning. We studied the moon phases and tides and on Earth. I would like to be able to learn more complex subjects about the universe. For example, I want to learn about dark matter and black holes. To learn more about this subject outside of school I often get books about our solar system and the universe. I'd also really like to visit the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. and the McDonald Observatory. The education I need for this job is going to be a Ph.D. and will take "5-7 years with courses in astrophysics, stellar and planetary physics and more" according to Study.com.

This career is important now and will continue to be in the future because pollution is destroying our planet and we may need a new place to live someday. Also, technology is continuing to progress and that is making it easier to discover if life on other planets exists. Our curiosity is never-ending and we are able to discover more now than ever before and we want to know if we are the only form of life in the observable universe.