When you’re young, one of the questions you hear the most is: “What do you want to do with your life?”
It’s a big question—sometimes an overwhelming one. Many young people feel pressure to have everything figured out early, but the truth is that passion isn’t always something you’re born knowing. Often, it’s something you discover by being curious, paying attention to what excites you, and allowing yourself to explore. For me, that passion is space.
But that passion didn’t appear fully formed. It began with curiosity—watching videos, reading about space, staying up late learning about something “just because.” Curiosity is something we do REALLY well in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) experiential learning. It’s really at the heart of it all. In fact, it’s right in our mission statement at the Exploreum, to engage people of all ages in hands-on, STEAM based learning, driven by curiosity and play.
Not everyone’s passion is space—and that’s the point. Passion is personal. Some young people find it through dinosaurs, others through creative writing, how our bodies work, coding, activism, Lego, making, the animal kingdom, or helping their communities. What matters is that the passion gives you energy, motivation, and a sense of purpose. Seeing someone else succeed in their passion—whether it’s an artist releasing their first song or astronauts preparing for Artemis II—can help you believe that your own interests are worth taking seriously.
When I look at Artemis II, I don’t just see a rocket and a crew—I see possibility. I see what can happen when curiosity is taken seriously. I’m reminded that passions discovered young can shape the future in powerful ways. And I’m over the moon excited to help people of all ages, throughout our region find and engage their passions at the Exploreum through our programming and exhibits as we prepare to open.
Full STEAM ahead. The sky’s the limit!