Queens Astronaut talks to kids

Stephanie Cornejal sat with her mother, Maria Ariza, in the Queens Central Library’s auditorium on Merrick Boulevard Monday morning and listened to Queens’ own astronaut, Charles Camarda, now the director of engineering at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.
After the hour-and-a-half presentation, Cornejal didn’t necessarily want to become an astronaut or even read about space travel. But Camarda’s intent sank in — whatever you want to do, go for it; don’t let anything stand in your way.
“I learned you should never give up on your dreams,” the nine-year-old Jamaica resident said. Camarda spoke of the many fears he’s faced and gotten past in his life.
“He was afraid and he went for it,” she said. “He inspired me to learn to swim.” Cornejal revealed she is scared of the water, but would now tackle that demon head on.
In front of students from three Jamaica middle schools – Immaculate Conception, I.S. 238, and Ideal Montessori – Camarda, an Ozone Park product and graduate of Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, talked about his many achievements with NASA, including his 15-day mission with STS-114 Discovery when he took a 5.8 million mile journey in space. He is now helping to build a new Apollo-like model that would allow NASA to take a return trip to the moon for further discoveries (it’s not projected for completion for the next 15-20 years).
But more than reeling off his many worldly experiences, Camarda made a point of hammering in the necessity of education and going after one’s passion in life. “I hope they realize how important it is to find your goal in life and follow your dreams,” he said.
Camarda certainly had an effect. “I think they were thoroughly impressed,” said I.S. 238’s parent coordinator, Victoria Rush. “I think he really intrigued them. They may be able to apply what he said to other disciplines.”
“Through his speech, he showed discipline is important,” said Cherryl Kovarsy, a teacher and librarian at I.S. 238. “He was able to communicate [to the students] that it’s important to reach your goals.”