Reaching for the stars

Rosemary,Class of 2009, Bursary Award Holder, Astronaut

Being an astronaut was Dr Rosemary Coogan’s dream from a young age, but it was a dream that seemed out of reach. So, she decided to study the stars instead, opting for a career in astrophysics. But when the European Space Agency (ESA) announced it was looking for new recruits to go to space, Rosemary applied and was chosen from more than 22,000 people. With an expected 35-year space career ahead, Rosemary may one day get the chance to become the first Briton to walk on the Moon.

I was at Brighton & Hove High between 2002-2009. My fondest memories are spending time with my classmates, both during lessons and outside of school. I remember feeling really comfortable at the school, and that meant we could enjoy the learning and have a lot of laughs as well. We also had a residential week in Boughrood when I was 12, which was great fun. There are a number of teachers who I felt went above and beyond. I have specific memories of Mr Marsh always being incredibly animated, even standing on top of the desks from time to time if I remember correctly(!), which made for really engaging chemistry lessons.

It’s really important to have the right learning environment, whether it’s a single-sex school or mixed. I personally feel I had fewer distractions being at an all-girls school, and I had plenty of opportunities to ask questions, particularly in the smaller classes. By the time I started A-levels I had a firm idea that I wanted to end up in a scientific field, and I’ve always been fascinated by space.