Where Are We Now?

Three weeks into my first semester at Penn State, I was sitting in my room about to put a bag of popcorn in the microwave when I got a text from Mom, "Call your dad.  It's important."

I sighed, threw my popcorn in the microwave, hit start, and brought up Dad's number.  The phone barely rang twice before he picked up.  The first few kernels started to pop as he began to talk.  As the kernels popped faster and louder, so did my heart.  I couldn't believe what Dad was saying.  The committee he was working on had started the first draft of a statement that would announce their intentions to use my idea to change competition flying forever.  As the smell of salty, buttery popcorn started to fill my dorm room, tears flooded my eyes.  I sank to the floor in front of the microwave and began to laugh.  It was happening.  My idea was going to become a plan, a proposal to change the hobby I love.  I was going to help make an impact and hopefully keep people interested and involved in the hobby.

After that night, the committee began to move on to expand upon their proposal.  Drafts of possible rule sets and guidelines were made.  A completely new form of competition began to be developed.  My idea was given a name, NAR Spacemodeling Qualifier Series, or SQS.  I have been given a couple drafts of SQS to look over and make comments on, and Zach just saw SQS for the first time earlier this week.

I could not be more excited about what the committee is doing to shape SQS.  My ideas are still the basis of this new form of competition, but SQS has evolved and developed into a great concept that I could have never created on my own.  

I am so thrilled to report that SQS will be making its first public appearance this Friday, February 26, 2016 at NARCON (National Association of Rocketry Convention) in Dayton, Ohio.  SQS will be presented to the board, sometime after 3:00 pm Eastern Time, by the committee that has brought it this far.  This committee has developed a great set of rules and has thought of different aspects that I would have never thought about.  I look forward to seeing how this committee continues to transform and adjust this idea in order to make it practical and plausible to help drive competitive flying and the hobby in general forward. 

When I started to develop this idea in Arizona during NARAM 57, I didn't let myself think about this idea getting as far as it already has, especially in such a short period of time.  I came up with the general idea that SQS has now transformed into a plausible and realistic set of rules that I believe, with a little more work, could reshape contest flying and drastically improve the hobby. 

I learned a lot about myself during this process and what I am capable of.  I was able to come up with an idea that was deemed interesting enough to warrant further investigation and a committee and may help to evolve my favorite hobby.  I learned that putting myself and my ideas out there can result in amazing connections and great opportunities.  More than anything, though, I proved to myself and others that I am more than capable of stepping up and creating solutions, even when no one expects a solution to be found.  Today, don't be afraid to step up in a new way or share an idea.  You never know what may happen.

As soon as I know more about how things went at NARCON, I'll create another update, so stay tuned to see how everything turns out!  Until next time, fly high, stay safe, and have fun!