- September 5, 2025
Mapúa MCL-SHS student embarks on educational voyage with NASA-HASSE
The journey to chasing excellence is never smooth sailing. For one student, it was about being the best version of themself, pursuing their passion, and reaching for the stars. Their path may shake and swerve, but only then did it guide them up to the moon.
Last May 17 to 28, 2025, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna Senior High School (Mapúa MCL-SHS) student Aaron Paolo G. Juan joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration – Houston Association for Space and Science (NASA-HASSE) program in Houston, Texas, United States of America.
Aaron demonstrated his excellence during the two-week program. His three-person team placed second overall, earning first place in Cryogenic, Mars Habitat Building/Presenting, and End Effector. They also secured second place in Rocket Building / Thermal Design and third place in Coding.
In an interview, the 17-year-old STEM student spoke extensively about his experiences and the valuable lessons he learned from the program. He revealed that he was initially unable to attend in 10th grade but was later accepted after demonstrating how his skills in creativity, innovation, and leadership complemented his STEM studies.
One of the most exciting activities during his two-week stay was building a model rocket. Aaron described this as the “coolest part” because the team didn’t just look at a model—they “actually built it.” For the thermal design project, a blowtorch was pointed to a protected barrier they had built to shield an egg. This hands-on experience gave them a deep, practical understanding of rocketry.
The program also went beyond rockets, with projects that included building a miniature model of lunar base and a cryogenic component. For the cryogenic challenge, the team created a protective structure for a rubber egg, which was then covered in liquid nitrogen.
Aaron applied two crucial lessons from his time at Mapúa MCL to the program, a sense of urgency, and a commitment to excellence. He recalled one instance where he and his team had to complete multiple creative presentations over a few sleepless nights. This challenging experience reinforced the importance of efficiency and quick thinking. For example, they created a presentation about the Challenger disaster in the style of a gameshow. Aaron noted that the presentation was purely educational and was not meant to make light of the situation.
The NASA-HASSE participant’s biggest lesson from the program was the importance of resilience. He admitted to making many mistakes and feeling frustrated, but he came to realize that these challenges are a natural part of a continuous process of evolution. As he put it, ” We must not forget that we evolve, little by little, because whenever we stumble, whenever we fall, we always have the chance to pick ourselves back up as long as we’re still alive.”
Reflecting on his past as a “lazy student,” he urges others to seize opportunities for self-improvement. He encourages them to stop comparing themselves to others and instead focus on becoming their “ideal self.”
He shared a valuable insight from his team’s chaotic experience building a lunar base. Despite a flood of competing ideas, they succeeded by learning to focus on the best concepts and reaching a consensus. Aaron concluded by emphasizing that true excellence comes from being the best version of yourself, not a copy of someone else.
Attending the program helped Aaron learn and explore more about his field of interest. Now a Grade 12 student, Aaron is a member of Techno Mapúa, the Mapúa MCL-SHS Robotics Club, where he continues to impart his knowledge and showcase his passion for his craft. He is eagerly looking forward to what the new school year will bring.
Aaron’s journey shows that passion and drive are the fuel you need to strive for excellence. Not every voyage will be the same, and some will end up challenging us. All it takes is a gaze at the stars in the night sky to remind us of the dreams we are all longing to achieve.
