As a child, and clear up through high school, I wanted to be an astronaut. Not just as a childish “I wanna be” fantasy; I seriously wanted to be one. By kindergarten level I had all nine planets memorized, and all through Grade School I nagged my mom to send me to Space Camp. The dream was practically within my reach in 1994, when I was admitted into BA Astronomy at USC; but my parents thought me too young to study abroad, so I went on to Ateneo.

This article, “How to Become an Astronaut,” comes to me almost a decade too late. Kids, read it. Learn it. Take advantage of the opportunity that *sniff, sniff* I missed.

Hmph. One day they’ll need graphic designers at Mars Base. Just wait. You’ll see.