At the TGR Learning Lab Philadelphia, learning doesn’t stop when students leave the classroom. Through opportunities provided by the TGR Foundation and its partners, students can take their curiosity beyond the Lab and into experiences that challenge them, expand their perspective and inspire them to dream bigger.
This summer, four students were selected to attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. Throughout the week, they took part in simulations, engineering challenges and hands-on STEAM experiences.
For Saniyah Weston, a rising 11th grader who first joined the Lab as a student and now serves as a summer intern, the opportunity became much more than a trip.
Below, Saniyah reflects on her experience in her own words.
Personal Reflections
I never thought someone like me could go to Space Camp. Honestly, I didn’t even know what Space Camp was. My mindset was simple: if I couldn’t afford it, why think about it?
Then I was given the opportunity to go without paying a dime. Not only did I get to experience Space Camp, but I also traveled to another state and saw things I never could have understood just by hearing someone else talk about them.
One of my favorite parts was meeting people from all over the country who I never would’ve met here in Philadelphia. They were genuine, funny and became real friends. That meant a lot to me because my idea of friendship had always looked different.
Going into the astronaut simulations, I thought they were going to be hard. That’s how much I didn’t trust myself. But once we got started, I realized they were actually fun. Learning how to keep our crew afloat, working together and figuring things out taught me I was capable of more than I thought.
I also got lucky with my crew. We were united from the beginning, and my trainers became like family. During the presentations and side quests, we pushed and learned from each other, which taught me so much about space, astronauts, our history and everyone who dedicated their lives to one mission. My team was so good, we even won the Commander’s Cup.
The craziest part is that I almost didn’t go.
Before Space Camp, I was struggling in Spanish class. My mom told me that if I failed, I couldn’t go. I cried, prayed and worried about losing the opportunity. Eventually, I realized I was putting all my energy in the wrong place. I started working; I passed, and I was able to have this life-changing opportunity.
Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful for the adventure. It gave me memories I’ll never forget and showed me that opportunities I once thought were unimaginable can become reality.
I’m thankful to the TGR Learning Lab and the Paul George Foundation for believing in students like me and making opportunities like this possible. I’ll always be grateful for this experience.
Space Crew 8 signing out.
Visit Philadelphia.TGRLearningLab.org to learn more about programs and ways to support students on their path to and through higher education.
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