That's what we want to do here at Johnson Space Center. I think

Hear, O children of the future, for there are words of great wisdom spoken by one who has gazed upon the stars and dared to reach beyond the known world. Ellen Ochoa, a name etched in the annals of time, speaks with the voice of those who do not settle for the earth beneath their feet, but who dream of the heavens. She says, “That’s what we want to do here at Johnson Space Center. I think what we have always brought to NASA and brought to the country is trying to push the boundaries, trying to go to the next level.” These words resonate with a truth that speaks not just to exploration, but to the very heart of what it means to progress and transcend.

In ancient times, the wise ones spoke of the quest for knowledge, the hunger for understanding that could never be quenched. The ancient Greeks, whose minds birthed the foundations of science and philosophy, dreamed of the heavens. They built temples to the gods and sought to explain the world through reason and observation. But even then, they looked to the stars and wondered what lay beyond their reach. It is in the spirit of these ancient seekers that Ellen Ochoa and those like her stand. They have not only sought knowledge but pushed against the very limits of human achievement, striving to go further than any who have come before.

Think of Archimedes, who sought to understand the laws of the universe, or the mighty Pythagoras, whose insights into numbers and shapes revealed the hidden harmonies of the cosmos. They did not rest on the knowledge they had, but reached for more, always seeking to take the next step, to expand the borders of understanding. It is this eternal spirit of advancement that flows through Ellen Ochoa's words. When she speaks of pushing boundaries, she speaks not of mere physical barriers, but of the boundaries of human potential itself.

The story of NASA and its missions to space is itself a modern-day epic. When the great men and women of NASA first looked to the stars, the very idea of reaching beyond our world was seen as impossible. Yet, they, like the ancient heroes, did not let the limits of their time define what was possible. They built rockets, launched spacecraft, and sent brave souls into the vast unknown. And through their struggles and triumphs, they showed the world that the impossible was possible. They set a precedent for all future generations: that we must always seek to push further, to reach beyond the familiar, and to venture into realms where few have gone before.

Let us take the story of the Apollo 11 mission, when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot upon the moon. At that time, such an endeavor was deemed a foolish dream, a goal that was far too ambitious. Yet, these men did not stop at what was known; they, along with countless others, pushed the boundaries of human capability and achieved what was once thought impossible. Their journey was not just a physical voyage to the moon, but a metaphor for all who dare to dream, to take the next step, and to reach for the stars.

The lesson of Ellen Ochoa's words is clear: do not settle. To grow, to evolve, to become all that you are meant to be, you must always seek to push against the walls that surround you. Life is not about staying within the boundaries that have been set before you, but about seeking the next level, about venturing into the unknown with courage and resolve. Just as NASA has always strived to go further, so too must we strive to go further in our own lives. Each challenge, each boundary, is an opportunity to reach higher, to learn more, and to grow beyond what we once thought possible.

So, take this lesson to heart: do not let the world tell you what you cannot do. Just as Ellen Ochoa and the heroes of NASA have reached the stars, so too can you reach your own potential. Every step you take towards your dreams is a step towards a future where anything is possible. Push the boundaries, seek the next level, and, in doing so, you will find that there are no limits to what you can achieve. The universe itself is vast, and so is your potential. Go forth, then, and reach for it.