Provided by Gladys Tumax

Senior Gladys Tumax smiles and poses for a picture. Tumax intends on majoring in aerospace engineering.

“It’s important to focus on what you think resonates in your life.

I’m majoring in aerospace engineering, so I really like studying and researching opportunities like with smaller organizations that combine engineering and math with environmental studies,  or what I can do to expand my knowledge in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field. 

My interest in STEM began when I got referred to a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) internship toward the end of seventh grade. I applied through the NASA website for an online internship and an in-person smaller one. I applied to a smaller internship for middle schoolers because those [had the basic requirements] which only required one letter of recommendation from any person of [my choice]. Before that, I didn’t take much interest in STEM, but when I started the internship and doing research, I thought it was really fun. I shadowed a lot of people that worked at NASA and was able to look at their work. I saw them do math problems, safety and health inspections and I was able to go through places in NASA that most people don’t get to see.

I’m committed to the University of Cambridge. I want to take up a job within the Aerospace Engineering branch, but I want to focus within the safety and health area. [The safety and health area [is] where you look at the deeper parts of the blueprints, analyze whether things are designed up to par, or if you have to redo those designs. After I graduate, I want to go back into graduate school and pursue my doctorate in aerospace engineering and take up a minor in biomedical engineering.

Bellaire has changed my personality a lot. After middle school I was much more gullible and shy. I didn’t really take on any leadership roles and didn’t know more about the different parts of school. When I came into Bellaire, I was able to integrate myself in different clubs and seeing the dynamic of the school made me open up more. I feel like I’ve learned that you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket, and explore everything.

I look forward to seeing where everybody is going to go. Right now, I’m focused on knowing where I’m going to go. Being able to see the path people are taking and taking in those last few moments with people whom I’m not going to see in a while is what I’m looking forward to the most. 

Take your time and don’t stress out over the little things, they’ll resolve themselves in the end. It’s also important not to compare yourself to everybody else. It’s okay to take your time, especially for seniors, but at the end of the day, you’re going to figure it out. It’s more important you focus on yourself instead of everyone else.”