Rocket Science

“Rocket science is tough, and rockets have a way of failing.”

High school. Freshman year. Enrolled in engineering class. In the class syllabus: build a rocket and launch it.

We sat at long tables, four students in each. Mr. Lupin, my teacher, in his signature khaki pants and red polo shirt explained the project and the grading system. Whether the rocket assignment was the first, or second, or the last one in the class doesn’t matter, I guess. I recall going outside in the blaring heat, standing around for my classmates to launch their rockets and wait for my turn. Wait for the teacher to call my name and place my rocket in the rocket launcher. There were only two outcomes: success or failure, fly or flop, cheer or frown. I wasn’t too optimistic and wanted to get it over with. I could bring up my grade with the spreadsheets we had to compile after every project. Easy 100. My rocket barely flew in the sky and softly hit the ground. After the semester ended, I knew I had no future as an engineer. And I was ok with it.