IconicAdmirableIntuitivePassionateDedicated.Nothing. No oxygen. Not even a slight soft whisperof wind to gently tickle your skin. The silver orb had finally descended afteran equitable flight merely rocketing over a three-day soar into the cosmos. The isolated yet beguiling moon had just embracedits first astronomers.
The lunar module ‘Eagle’ had sunken into the softashy terrain of the moon: a sudden flurry of air combined with gravel, graciouslyelevated, as the lunar module’s ladder made contact with the moon’s untouchedand unexplored terrain. Thunk. Thunk.Thunk. Loud tedious step after step hits each individual platform ofthe ladder. Hwoo… Ha…Hwoo…Ha.A trapped gasp of air echoes within the mission commander’s mask. Like the sunstifled by the clouds on a hot summer’s day.
The mission commander’s heavily booted foot leisurelylands with a soft pfffft on themoon’s surface. That hard- booted foot gently touching the surface, like anangel had descended from the heavens, creating a miracle; entrenching in historyfor all time with a Single Step taken that day on the moon. Wandering. A Single Step doubled. A Single Step multiplied. A Single Step led to a moment that moulded theboundaries and possibilities of humanity today.A five-year-old child gazed up at a sky full ofaircraft weaving through the puffy white weightless clouds in rapt amazement.
Ata ripe young age, his infatuation with aircraft and the idea of flight propelledNeil into a reality he aspired to soar into. Neil Alden Armstrong’s love forflying grew through the constant relocation from home to home. Neil was as determinedas an experienced fisherman to hook in that golden catch to pursue his love ofaviation and he obtained a student’s flight certificate at the young age of sixteeneven before obtaining his driver’s license. Flight was integral to Armstrong’s soul and he thuschannelled this love through the study of aeronautical engineering: thestudying of building and developing aircrafts.
He was even accepted by theMassachusetts Institute of Technology but he later decided against attending. At the age of eighteen, Neil was called tojoin the United States Navy. Neil became a qualified Naval Pilot and took his initialground of action in the Orient. His plane was targeted by anti-aircraft artilleryand a large portion of the wing became dismantled before a disordered emergencyejection sent him gliding towards the opposite direction of safety wheremiraculously he was picked up by his friend from flight school. His heroicservice was admirable as he flew many Combat Missions, receiving gold stars, aKorean service medal and an engagement star for flying in the navy.Neil Armstrong is a name that is associated with being anAmerican hero and icon to the world. Whether it be his actions before the Apollo11 space mission, or the very moment he – thefirst man in history to walk on the moon; it is evident that Armstrong is a manthat many still admire, look up to and share common passions and intuition intheir own nature based on his hard work and his dedication to his passion.Since then, the world of astronomy has expanded and evolvedto that of discovering new planets, stars and potentially the start of life onthe planet Mars.
There have been many inventions and new discoveries since thatfirst Step on the moon. As amazing as those discoveries are, nothing has quitematched the awe of Armstrong’s moon walk. There has been no other man who hasbeen as well- known for his famous flight as Armstrong and it is highlyprobable that he will always be remembered for this remarkable achievement howeverI do believe that Elon Musk is making history in the making with his spacetheories.
I do not share thatfond love for aircraft like Neil did, however, I believe that I share his levelof dedication which I apply to my academic abilities. I can apply the same workethic to pursue what I love and achieve the impossible. I feel that I havegained insight and knowledge from Armstrong’s story and have faith that I too havethe ability to make a mark in history. A Single Step.
A Single Step that will double.A Single Step that will multiply.A Single Step to lead to a moment that will further mould theboundaries and possibilities of humanity.
One small Step for me…’One giant leap for mankind’.
