“If you are ever told that you can’t do something, you need to challenge it and think, well why?”
Tim Peake’s achievements are undeniably astronomical. Yet his journey to becoming that astronaut might not be what you think…
Peake was an average kid at school, with average academic performance. His passion however, was anything but average. He wanted to fly, and he knew this the moment he sat in the cockpit of an aircraft.
Before donning the iconic spacesuit, Peake was a military man, serving as an Army Air Corps Pilot. To get there he had to complete his A-levels (in which he achieved a C, D, and E grade), face a rigorous selection process, and then spend a year training. He took everything in his stride, and this ultimately set him on his journey into space.
Whilst many would be completely overwhelmed by the astronaut selection process, Peake’s positive attitude and ability to draw on his own unique experiences saw him excel. He was surrounded by incredibly bright individuals but didn’t let this intimidate him. He believed in himself. He wasn’t afraid to fail.
Later selected for a mission to the International Space Station, Peake faced the ultimate challenge: saying goodbye to his family as he embarked on a six-month journey into the unknown. When lift-off came, there was no room for doubt, and Peake’s dedication to his mission saw him soar.
Peake reminds us to challenge those that tell us we can’t do something. To take whatever route we need to take, and that with perseverance, passion, and positivity, we too can reach for the stars.
