Cristina Paredes-Murrell

I am an explorer and I am never going to stop exploring. 🚫🛑

All of my classes throughout elementary, middle and high school were too boring for me. 🥱You know what I am talking about: the traditional classroom where the teacher talks (lectures nonstop) and the students listen (don’t ask questions or interact). 

The teacher taught and I was exploring other topics in my mind (in other words, not paying attention). But on it went, year after year, until I finally graduated from this lengthy compulsory and painful system, just to begin again. 

College was better in some ways, but the lessons were pretty much the same: this time it was the “professor” talking and again the students listening. And again, I find myself exploring in my mind or not going to classes. I felt sad and conflicted when I realized that this is just how education is - regardless of age. 

Somehow, after all of this, I ended up working in the worst system: education, and I love it.

I realized that the best place to explore IS in a CLASSROOM. Students can learn any topic through projects and exploration that excites and interests them - any grade or age - and it shouldn't be just optional or extra-curricular. 

Building electric guitars🎸, prototyping person-riding boats using recycled bottles⛵️, creating prosthetics using straws and cardboard 🦾🦿, designing parkour shoes👟 - the list is endless. I was finally feeling happy about my life and my career. I don’t want students to wait until they are adults to explore. 

This is why I am on a mission to open an all-girls space school to be called: “Future of exploration” or f(x) for short. Here, girls will have the opportunity to explore different spaces: physical, virtual, augmented, planetary, extraterrestrial, and anything in-between. 

The teachers (who are at the center) will not teach, they will share ideas and their experiences. Students are going to feel their passion, ask questions, collaborate and create with the teachers. 

We are explorers and we will not stop developing. 🚀 Starting with scientific research and technology exposure and integration at a young age and in a supportive environment where learning and challenging the norms is welcomed (not just in talk, but in action) we plan to challenge the status quo. 

We hold these following truths as honorable and respectable: Girls are scientists; everyone is a mathematician; space exploration is only the start. ↗️↗️↗️