“My dream job would be to work as a physicist for the Air Force’s research department or a private research company, such as Lockheed Martin.”
Senior Kirsten Scott has high hopes for her future. But she isn’t just hoping for an incredible outcome; she’s been working toward her goals for years.
Scott is a senior at the Engineering and Technologies Academy (ETA) at Roosevelt High School. She’s taken advanced physics courses every year of high school. It’s what she plans to major in in college. She’s also involved in JROTC and qualified for a NASA Moonshot Competition.
Before Roosevelt, she attended the Krueger School of Applied Technologies (KSAT) at Krueger Middle School. During her 8th grade year, she was selected to participate in the Student Launch Team. It’s a unique elective involving an 8-month rocket-building project and outreach events.
“My time at KSAT was an amazing experience, and I am so grateful for the mentorship and support I received during my time there,” said Scott. “I also learned so much about working as a part of a team and managing tasks and deadlines. Working with the KSAT teachers and mentors like Mrs. Thomas and Mr. Cosgrove inspired me to keep pursuing my interests in aerospace and engineering, and it immersed me in all of the possibilities that a career in the space industry holds. I continued on the aerospace engineering pathway at ETA, which led me to discover my love for physics --especially theoretical physics!”
Now, as a senior, she’s giving back to a class that meant so much to the foundation of her growing passion. She goes to Krueger after school and mentors this year’s students on the Student Launch Team. She gives them thoughtful feedback on their ideas and even helps with some research.
“Working with Mrs. Thomas and Mr. Cosgrove helped me realize that not only do awesome careers like that even exist, but more importantly, that I am capable of achieving them,” said Scott. “They helped my peers, and I take charge of our learning, presenting us with design projects that challenged us to think and explore the endless possibilities of the solutions we could create. Their support helped me get where I am today, on my way to achieving things I could only dream of when I was 11, and I am so grateful.”
“Kirsten is the perfect example of intentional learning and teaching,” said her former KSAT teacher, Tracy Thomas. “She is passionate, and her leadership can be seen in all she does. She is a wonderful role model for our students at the middle school and the high school! Fly high, Kirsten…you will be a success in all that you do!”
The sky is the limit when it comes to opportunities for our students interested in career and technical education. Browse all that Career and Technical Education (CTE) has to offer to learn more about the many CTE opportunities available across NEISD.
