Should I grow up?

[Snowalker]

I want to be an astronaut. Thats not something I take lightly. I'm 16, taking advanced physics, may be taking college courses over physics this summer. I plan on Majoring in Aerospace Engineering, and after that I plan to go into the AirForce(US) as an officer. I want to be a pilot, but if my eyes don't provide, I'll settle for drone pilot. Now I know the chances of becoming a space pilot are extremely slim, so if I never get the opportunity, I'll just stick with the AirForce and ride it out for 20years and retire. What I'm asking is should I just drop the hope of becoming an astronaut now?
The reason I ask is because, back towards the beginning of the year, one of our teachers asked us to introduce ourselves one by one if we wanted two. So, I stood up, said a few things I was interested in, and the teacher asked me what I wanted to do with my life and I replied, "Well, I'd like to be an astronaut." To which some smart-ass responded, "Hey, yeah me too, but then I turned five!"


I know you shouldn't get shook up on that kind of stuff, but the way everyone agreed with him made me feel like I might just be childish by planning for it.

 

[Rylot]

I'm pretty sure no one who's been to space has ever woken up one day just decided to try it out, years of hard work and training went into it. Sure that maybe dream that everyone has as a kid and most people grow out of, but from the sounds of it you have as good a shot as anyone to actually make your dreams a reality. Do what you want, follow your dreams, nothing else matters.

edit: Plus could you imagine your high school reunion if you actually made it to being an astronaut?

 

[DefunctTheory]

Keep in mind, it requires COLOSSAL effort and skill to be an astronaut. On top of that, NASA is bailing on its own space program soon, so you'll have to start competing with civilian companies (Which may or may not suckle the Air Force like NASA does).

But if your willing to do the work, then do the work.

I'm hesitant though. The very fact that your asking the internet for advice on this makes me question your conviction.

 

[Aurgelmir]

I don't think there is anything wrong with knowing what you want, even though it is something as hard to become as an Astronaut. Just know that it might not be possible to achieve, so that way you won't be disappointed.

Other than that keep your dreams up!

 

[Snowalker]

Keep in mind, it requires COLOSSAL effort and skill to be an astronaut. On top of that, NASA is bailing on its own space program soon, so you'll have to start competing with civilian companies (Which may or may not suckle the Air Force like NASA does).

But if your willing to do the work, then do the work.

I'm hesitant though. The very fact that your asking the internet for advice on this makes me question your conviction.

And thats a fair question... I'm fairly serious about it, but my main goal is Pilot/Drone Pilot, and astronaut thereafter. The Pilot thing will be my biggest hurtle, it won't be something that will "just happen" So I'm focusing on that more than anything, and nothing will dissuade me from becoming a pilot. Its becoming an astronaut thereafter that.. I can't say I'm certain on. I want to say I have the conviction, but I hardly know. But I WILL be a pilot, one way or another.

 

[Toaster Hunter]

Give it a try. If it doesn't work, you still have a backup pan, so, why not. Just be prepared, it means you have to literally be a rocket scientist as well as they physical strength and endurance of an Olympic athlete, not the easiest thins to accomplish.

 

[SiskoBlue]

Hell no you're not being childish? People might think you're being facetious when you say "Astronaut" because that's been the joke for years. But you actually WANT to be an astronaut. You clearly know a lot about it, and have even considered what's realistic path and back up plan. Don't let one smart-ass comment dissuade you. And what a surprise, a cynical put down from a fellow teenager. Kids are great at that age.

There's an expression I heard. It sounds a bit fruity but I think it has merit. "If you shoot for the moon and fail, you'll fall to the earth. If you shoot for the Sun and fail, you'll fall to the moon". I think it's a Chinese translation. Either way, the point is there's nothing wrong for aiming at the impossible. Lots of things were considered impossible until someone did it. But if you try and don't quite succeed in becoming an astronaut I absolutely guarantee you'll still be considered a succees by most people's standards. Just becoming a air force pilot makes you part of a very small and talented group of people.

Even if you can't become a pilot, and just become a maths/physics/computer expert from TRYING to become a pilot, you'll still be considered successful and talented by most people's standards. So really you have nothing to lose in trying and everything to gain.

And tell that guy he better work on his material because he sucks as a comedian.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

That's not childish at all. If you don't make astronaut (the realist in me says it's unlikely, but don't let me kill your dream), you'll end up a pilot. You know how awesome that is? really awesome.

 

[DuctTapeJedi]

snip

If everyone who wanted to be an astronaut as a kid just said "screw it, I'll take up accounting like a normal person," NASA wouldn't exactly be where it is today.

The main reason I don't find your aspirations childish is because it sounds like you have some good plans on how to get there.

Besides, when we were kids, my sister said she wanted to be a nurse. Today she works... as a nurse. Just because you don't change your life goal doesn't mean it's wrong.

 

[dmase]

I imagine majority of the people that are now down in history as astronauts, supreme court justice or anything that only a select few people in a field get to experience didn't luck into those positions. They didn't go in as pilots and someone was like hey... you wanna go into space? They all had intentions of going as far as they could, I mean going down the path of astronaut you have plenty of alternatives if it doesn't work out so I don't see the problem.

 

[Simalacrum]

Don't drop the dream! Go for it man, and ignore anything else anyone else says! I know that everyone is laughing in their head when they nod politely at my "I want to go to the circus. No, seriously." response, but that shant stop me and this shouldn't stop you!

Also, once you've become an astronaut send us pics of cool space stuff XD

 

[Anarchemitis]

Who cares what they think, the highest their ambitions will go is two points above the top score on Halo 3. Your ambitions top an altitude of 550,000 feet and higher.

Plan B isn't so bad either.
(Chuck Yeager never became an astronaut because he didn't have a college degree. Never stopped him from being an excellent pilot though.)

 

[gazumped]

"Well, I'd like to be an astronaut." To which some smart-ass responded, "Hey, yeah me too, but then I turned five!"

Yeah, you know who else wanted to be an astronaut at sixteen? Most astronauts. HAHA WHAT SILLY KIDS THEY WERE... waitaminute...

 

[Jellly]

It's always good to have something to aspire to, give you a drive. However, do take into consideration not many people get such an opportunity and I would adopt a mentality of:

"I really want this and it'd be awesome if it happened but I'm not going to get too caught up in it if I don't get the opportunity."

 

[BonsaiK]

I want to be an astronaut. Thats not something I take lightly. I'm 16, taking advanced physics, may be taking college courses over physics this summer. I plan on Majoring in Aerospace Engineering, and after that I plan to go into the AirForce(US) as an officer. I want to be a pilot, but if my eyes don't provide, I'll settle for drone pilot. Now I know the chances of becoming a space pilot are extremely slim, so if I never get the opportunity, I'll just stick with the AirForce and ride it out for 20years and retire. What I'm asking is should I just drop the hope of becoming an astronaut now?
The reason I ask is because, back towards the beginning of the year, one of our teachers asked us to introduce ourselves one by one if we wanted two. So, I stood up, said a few things I was interested in, and the teacher asked me what I wanted to do with my life and I replied, "Well, I'd like to be an astronaut." To which some smart-ass responded, "Hey, yeah me too, but then I turned five!"


I know you shouldn't get shook up on that kind of stuff, but the way everyone agreed with him made me feel like I might just be childish by planning for it.

Might as well go for it. As long as you're realistic about your chances and you have something to fall back on (which you do) then I don't see a problem.

 

[similar.squirrel]

No, you don't. But don't be heartbroken if the plan falls through; space programs are falling by the wayside. I don't know about commercial space-flight, though. That seems somewhat promising.