Legacy High School junior Yuki Soda will spend his summer in Australia.
According to a Facebook post by Midland Independent School District (ISD), Soda is one of five American students selected to attend the Professor Harry Messel International Science School (ISS) this summer in Australia. "Yuki applied for the program after participating in Go For Launch!, the space exploration program offered to MISD students throughout the year by Higher Orbits thanks to support from the Midland Development Corporation," the district wrote.
Higher Orbits, an organization that promotes space exploration education, said that Soda initially hesitated to apply for the program, thinking his chances were slim. However, when he heard Michelle Lucas at Higher Orbits’ Go For Launch! Program say, "You can’t get it if you don’t apply," the message resonated with him. Now, he is looking forward to what he describes as a "life-changing" ISS experience. In addition to his academic pursuits, Soda plans to visit the Sydney Opera House and explore Australian culture.
Soda expressed his disbelief and excitement about being accepted into ISS: "When I applied for ISS, I never imagined I would actually get in. My friend Brianna, who had gone to the ISS back in 2023, had told me so much about her experience and all the different types of lectures that she was able to take part in and listen to and learn from," said Soda. "I was watching the Facebook live announcement when I heard my name—and I had to rewind and watch it multiple times to believe it! It felt surreal. Out of so many incredible applicants, I had been chosen."