Even among high school graduates with big ambitions, Magdalena Richardson stands out as someone who’s shooting for the stars – literally.
The Maple Ridge secondary Grade 12 student wants to be an astronaut.
That’s a little like saying you plan to become Prime Minister, and Richardson admits when she says it, “I get quite a few chuckles.
But she can talk quite authoritatively on the topic. And, her science education has been launched by $86,000 in academic scholarships from the University of Ottawa.
Richardson has been inspired by Canadian astronauts. She heard Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian to walk in space, speak at the American Academy for Advancement of Science Conference in Vancouver. And she met Marc Garneau at Science World – Richardson is part of a group called Future Science Leaders at Science World – “a group for keener kids who are interested in the sciences.”
She was struck by how genuine the Canadian spacemen are, and how they love their career. She has always been the student who approaches a teacher after class to talk a little more about an interesting subject, and she went up to the men after their speeches.
Garneau, the first Canadian in space and a participant in space shuttle missions, left an impression. He told her that looking at Earth from space changes one’s perspective in a way that can’t be put into words.
“The adventurist side of me really loved that, and the poetic side of me really loved that,” she said.
“I want to know what that’s like.”
They inspired her to follow their career trajectory.
She also met Roberta Bondar, Canada’s first female astronaut. Having at that point decided her future was in space, Richardson asked for advice for “a lowly high school student who wants to be an astronaut.”
Bondar gave Richardson an interesting and encouraging response – study languages, because it’s important to be a strong communicator, and get a broad education. Bondar was in school for 12 years, has four degrees, and was the first neurologist in space.
It was a “fantastic” meeting, and Bondar’s advice suited Richardson well. She is a french immersion student, who is excited to attend the University of Ottawa because it is one of two places in Canada where she can obtain a sciences degree in French.
She won an entrance scholarship, valued at $26,000, to the university, then also won a prestigious $60,000 Schulich Leadership Scholarship. Those are for students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and only 40 are awarded across Canada.
Richardson won the Schulich based on her 96-per-cent grade point average, an essay showing her community involvement, and evidence submitted that shows her community involvement.
With Science World, she has done things like build a robot for competition, and banding birds – weighing them, measuring their beaks and taking other stats.
“I found out chickadees are vicious,” she remarks.
And locally she has been a volunteer with the Fraser Valley Regional Library, helped form a student philosopher’s cafe, and works with It Won’t Bite – a group that helps seniors grapple with technology and devices.
She also helps out at Petals, which is a support to women and children.
At school, she is the captain of the debate team and part of the environmental club. She was part of a mock United Nations exercise in Vancouver, and despite being saddled with representing Iraq, she came away with an outstanding delegate certificate.
Richardson also loves music, playing French horn in classical band and Alto Sax in the jazz band. She and some friends started a folk rock band called Papineau and the Patriots, in which she pounds on the drums, and can bust out the accordion – she taught herself the latter.
“We just play at each others barbecues,” she said.
Still, it’s part of an impressive resumé.
Ottawa is going to be a big adventure.
“I was born in Maple Ridge hospital, and spent my whole life in Maple Ridge,” she said. “It’ll be nice even to experience a real Canadian winter, where it’s not just rain.”
She said all the change that’s coming this September hasn’t really hit home, but has reflected on what a financial burden has been lifted off her family.
“There were tears in my household when we found out I had this scholarship.”