In Mexico, there is a saying: "No le tengo miedo al chile aunque lo vea colorado." The direct translation is "I’m not afraid of chile even if I see it red." This phrase is used to express that you are not afraid of anything, and it means more than being unafraid of spicy peppers. This is about recognizing something that might be scary and deciding to not be afraid, and to "eat that pepper" anyways! I think about this a lot. During my first livestream with Ms. Keefe’s class in Westford, Ben asked what gave me the courage to study mantas. The truth is that I had to give it to myself! And no matter what you decide to do in your own life, I want you to remember to give that courage to yourself, too.
We’ve spent a lot of time talking about my work. And one day, you’re going to spend a lot of time at work! When the time comes, pick something that you genuinely love. Are you interested in dancing? There are jobs for that. Do you think about aliens much? NASA has no age restrictions for astronauts. It might surprise you how many ways there are to make a job out of what you love. Or maybe you pick something, and then realize after a few years that it wasn’t what you thought it would be. Start again!
