Reaching For The Stars
By Isabella Macias
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I am thrilled to share my own journey. My name is Isabella Macias. I am a fourth-year Astrophysics student at the University of Florida (UF), and my pursuit of the stars has been deeply intertwined with my commitment to empowering the next generation of students while embracing my diverse cultural heritage.
I was born in Queens, but my formative years were spent in Bradenton, Florida. My roots trace back to a rich tapestry of Latin American cultures, with influences from Colombia, Bolivia, and Argentina. My family's story is one of resilience and determination, echoing the quintessential immigrant experience. My father, hailing from the vibrant city of Bogotá, Colombia, and my mother, originally from the enchanting La Paz, Bolivia, embarked on a journey for a better life in the U.S.A., fueled by a shared dream of greater opportunities, economic stability, and the promise of a brighter future.
I graduated from Braden River High School, located in the School District of Manatee County, where one-third of students are Hispanic, or approximately 19,000 out of 51,000. (In Sarasota one-fourth, or more than 10,000 out of 45,000 students, are Hispanic.) After that, I began my journey of educational and community engagement. My involvement with UnidosNow, a nonprofit empowering first-generation, low-income students to pursue higher education, became a pivotal part of my story. Simultaneously, I embraced my passion for space research, diving into NASA's L’SPACE academies during my first year at UF. My projects included searching for signs of life on Venus and aiming to establish 4D-printed settlements on the Moon. In my second year, I continued to build my research credentials, working as a part-time Telescope Operator at UF's Rosemary Hill Observatory. I also assumed the role of College Coach at UnidosNow's Future Leaders Academy, mentoring first-generation high school students with a STEM focus, and guiding them through academics and the college application process.
In my third year, I seized the opportunity to participate in the prestigious California Institute of Technology’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship. I contributed to the NASA NEOWISE mission, delving into research related to near-Earth hazardous asteroids. Upon my return to UF, I embarked on an additional project: I became a UF Research Assistant, specializing in studying chemical abundances in metal-poor stars. As I entered my final year of undergraduate studies, I spent my summer conducting research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of celestial bodies beyond our solar system.
Continuing my commitment to empowering the next generation, I consistently find ways to give back to UnidosNow's Future Leaders Academy as an alumna, amidst my research projects. My dedication to the program goes beyond my role as a College Coach during my undergraduate years. Today, I serve as an inspirational figure for the program's students, offering a glimpse into my own college experience and demonstrating how they too can achieve success in the world of research and academia.
Looking forward, I am in the midst of applying to multiple institutions to pursue my Ph.D. in Astrophysics. My goal is to delve into the study of exoplanetary systems, unraveling the intricate relationships between exoplanets and their host stars, and perhaps, uncovering the tantalizing possibility of life beyond our galaxy.
As we commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month, my journey serves as a vivid example of the diverse backgrounds and talents that enrich the Hispanic community. I aspire to persist as a trailblazer, not only reaching for the stars but also extending a guiding hand to those who tread a similar path. My mission is to empower the forthcoming generation of students, showcasing the profound influence individuals can wield when they unite their heritage with their passions and disseminate their wisdom globally. Looking ahead, our potential remains boundless, akin to the stars in the night sky, awaiting discovery and dissemination to the cosmos.