I am currently majoring in Anthropology, with an emphasis in Social/Cultural Anthropology. My interests, however, are not solely confined to this planet or our solar system. I have always dreamed of exploring the galaxy, traveling across time and space, to seek out life in all of its diversity. Therefore, I consider Anthropology the best career avenue to land my dream job: functioning as a member of an international crew on the first manned mission to Mars or beyond. Although there is a general consensus within the scientific community that any life that was possible on Mars has gone the way of the dinosaurs, such a theory needs thorough investigation before it can be heralded as fact.

Technological limitations and astronomical costs aside, the exploration of the cosmos in general and Mars in particular are what I believe to be keys to the survival and continued evolution of our species. As an aspiring anthropologist and an ordinary, curious homo sapien, I have an obligation to ensure that our species thrives so that there is an abundance of cultural and biological diversity left to study. As a member of an international team, I would do my best to represent not only people of African descent but the global community. The research done in the name of science and the survival of life on Earth would diminish the significance of national borders, which often reinforce the proliferation of segregation and environmental conflicts rather than generate increased integration and understanding.

In addition to my aptitudes in analysis and observation, my linguistic skills would also be in service to the successful completion of future missions. The world we now inhabit is a challenging one, and it would be naive to assume that the issues of economics and the politics of geography would be relegated to the background during such a project. Every member of that crew, including myself, would represent diverse interests; the language barrier would most definitely be a formidable obstacle. I am currently undertaking the study of Mandarin and Spanish; Russian and Japanese are next on my list. At present, a trip to Mars is at least a decade away. By then, I hope to be Doctor Powell. When and if the National Aeronautics and Space Administration decide to throw its unwavering support behind such a historic endeavor, I would be humbled to be considered a “person of interest” worthy to participate in the realization of what had formerly been science fiction.