Nevaeh Otara Space Cadet to NASA

Nevaeh Tawhi-Marsters | 18 Years Old | Cook Island Maori

It’s always been my dream to be able to explore the world we live in & experience new and different things. I take any opportunity I can get my hands on. I’m a firm believer that ‘in order to grow you must leave your home’ and that is something I choose to live by. I am a core leader for the Otara Youth Hub Leadership team and the founder of the CODE444 youth movement also based in Otara.

My interest & knowledge in STEM was minimal as I come from a family that does not work in the fields and because of that naturally steered towards what was the norm in our whanau. There was nothing wrong with that however it did mean that I for the most part would not take interest in other particular subjects. Despite this I’ve actually always found an interest in Science subjects, such as Chemistry + Biology but never really took it further because if I am honest the way that these subjects were taught to use was quite boring. I’m hoping that this trip helps widen my knowledge of stem subjects and that real life practical hands on experience may actually open my eyes to just how amazing, interesting and diverse this field of work actually is.

I will definitely use what I learn from this trip & try implementing it any way I can when I get back just as I did when I went to the festival for the future conference in wellington which saw me come back and establish CODE444 Movement in Otara.