The idea of space travel has always fascinated me. Traveling “where no human being has gone before,” visiting places that seem impossible to reach and that I’ve only seen in photographs, would be the thrill of a lifetime. Although our technology hasn’t quite reached the point where I can realize this dream, I did move a few steps closer this summer.

Being chosen to attend Honeywell’s Space Camp for Teachers at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama was an exciting adventure from the very beginning. As soon as I arrived, I heard the best advice—try everything! I knew this would be challenging since I get dizzy easily and a bit nauseous, even on a merry-go-round. Depending on the situation, heights can be challenging, and I don’t like being in confined spaces. These are not good characteristics for a successful astronaut!

The excitement began when our team leader introduced us to the Space Shot, a ride in which you are propelled upward at 3 Gs, experience weightlessness at the top, then fall abruptly back toward the ground. This is the kind of ride I would avoid at a fairground. But I had resolved to try everything, so I was one of the first to climb aboard, even though the ride would soar far above the treetops, and the only thing holding each of us in was an open chair with a metal and plastic shoulder harness.

I held on for dear life, there was a countdown, and we blasted off like a rocket! At the top, I lifted off my seat for that moment of weightlessness, and my fear dissipated as the ride carried us up and down a few times before settling back down on the ground. The successful completion of this ride set the tone for my experiences throughout the rest of the week. I was exhilarated and determined not to let a single opportunity for adventure pass me by.

We started every day at 8 a.m. and were busy well into the evening. Throughout the week, we experienced all kinds of astronaut training activities: walking on the moon in a one-sixth gravity chair, spinning uncontrollably in a multi-axis trainer, descending 50 feet to the water in a parachute harness, simulating a helicopter rescue at sea, participating in simulated missions, and meeting a real astronaut. In addition to all that excitement, we attended briefings on topics such as the Space Shuttle Transportation System and the new Ares program, as well as workshops designed to help us become better teachers of math, science, technology, and engineering.

Every activity at Space Camp was out of this world, and the most valuable experiences for me happened when I was operating outside of my comfort zone, trying things that I normally wouldnt even consider doing, or facing unfamiliar tasks that really put me in the position of being a student. Passionate as I am about learning, it was a different experience to face problems that had to be solved in a limited amount of time with limited resources, using information and skills that were new to me. Working through, and solving, problems as part of a team was rewarding, and the thrill of success on the last day, when my teammates and I went from worst to best in an engineering challenge, was unmatched. These are inspirational stories that I will tell my students, and anyone else who will listen, for many years to come. Space Camp expanded my horizons and pushed me beyond what I thought were my limits. I hope to do the same for my students at the Renaissance School, and who knows, maybe someday we will all travel into space together!