Success Stories
Newport News student is beating the odds
By: Kareen Taylor
Staff Writer
The Hampton-Roads Voice
To the average 11-year old, words and phrases like galaxies, moonbeams, and spacecraft represent a little more than good Scrabble crossword game scores.
But to Glidersleeve Middle School student Isaiah Pope, they mean so much more, and his interest in what those words mean has the potential to open up to him, quite literally, a new universe.
Using his passion and talent for the sciences, soon Isaiah will make his way up the ranks from inspired youngster to camp student at Camp Kennedy Space Center on the golden shores of Florida’s east coast.
While students across the state are drawing their answers to the age-old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Isaiah already has the answer.
He wants to become an astronaut someday, but says, he’ll settle for a career as an entertainer or as a NASCAR driver just as long as he isn’t bored.
His journey into space exploration began with a commercial he discovered while watching television.
Traveling to the moon explained an astronaut, "Is like going to Disneyworld everyday and getting paid for it," said a smiling Pope of the commercial.
"That would inspire anybody," to reach their highest potential explained the youngster.
He was recently awarded $1,900 scholarship—to turn his dream of visiting a space camp into reality—from Start Something, a nationwide character and career exploration program.
To earn the scholarship, which will pay for travel and otherexpenses, Isaiah had to complete several math, science and computer activities, designed to help him think about his goals and interests.
With dreams of becoming an astronaut, he learned leadership skills as well peers.
As part of the experience, Isaiah worked alongside fellow students to collect and donate school suppliers and clothing to disadvantaged children in the Hampton Roads area.
"As the youngest of the 14 students that participated, Isaiah exhibited an eagerness to learn from the great wisdom among the older students," said Gresha Lewis, Isaiah’s Start Something group leader.
"Utilizing the wonderful leadership curriculum that the Tiger Woods Foundation provided, the learned how to increase his leadership qualities, confidence, self-esteem and motivation."
Phyllis Pope, Isaiah’s mother, also thinks very highly of the program.
Later this year, the mother and son will head to Florida Space Center where Isaiah will get a chance to witness first-hand the everyday challenges faced by astronauts.
"I think it’s wonderful that the opportunity was provided him" explained the boy’s mother."The program is excellent. It has propelled [Isaiah] in areas whereby he excels."
For now, Isaiah looks forward to going on a simulated space flight, learning about future space travel and meeting with actual astronauts.
The Tiger Woods Foundation and Target Corporation partnered in 2000 to create Start Something, the program is for children ages 8 to 17.
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