Journey to Space

Aum Mehta, a recent graduate from ACG Parnell College, has set his sights on reaching for the stars. With a passion for aerospace and space, Aum has embarked on a double degree at the University of Sydney with the ultimate goal of joining NASA’s space program. Not only does Aum’s journey demonstrate the opportunities available for young people in the field of aerospace, but it also highlights the growth of New Zealand’s aerospace industry. 

Aum’s ultimate goal is to work on actual space travel and make it accessible to the common public. “Everyone I’ve spoken to when I tell them I’m studying aerospace engineering, asks me to book them a ticket to space. Everyone wants to go to space. And so just making them an accessible thing that everyone could be able to do in maybe 40 years’ time would be amazing.”

There is growing momentum in the field of private space travel and Aum mentions pioneers like Jeff Bezos and Virgin Galactic and Elon Musk as examples who are leading the way. Ultimately though, Aum would like a hand in making space travel accessible to the general public. Currently, only the top 0.0001% have an opportunity for space travel.

Aum has his initial targets set on NASA, which is considered the gold standard in the field of space, but he also has an interest in starting his own business in the future. He has chosen to pursue a double degree in Commerce and Aeronautical Engineering (Honours) with a specialisation in space at the University of Sydney, which will give him the experience and resources to start his own business one day.

“The New Zealand aerospace industry has definitely taken off and for the size of the country, it’s definitely well ahead of most other countries with a population of 5 million people. So I can definitely see myself coming back to New Zealand and probably getting some experience in the US and then bringing that knowledge to New Zealand and trying to start up on my own or develop one of the smaller companies in New Zealand.”

It was during his time at ACG Parnell College that Aum’s passion for aerospace and space began. He was able to specialise in the subjects he was most passionate about, including maths, physics, economics, and computer science, which all revolve around problem-solving. “The flexibility of the Cambridge curriculum allowed me to focus and specialise in the subjects I was most passionate about.” 

His hard work and dedication paid off as he achieved four A* grades (90% and over) in A-Level Cambridge exams over the past two years. This is a remarkable achievement, as typically three or more A* grades are required to be accepted into top overseas universities. Aum was accepted into the University of Sydney to study a double degree with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering (Honours) specialising in Space. He received three scholarships to support him through his studies, including the Chancellor’s Award, the Dalyell Scholars stream, and a St John’s College scholarship.

Aum credits ACG Parnell for preparing him for the step-up to tertiary study. “ACG has made the transition very seamless as we spent our last few years slowly gaining more responsibility through being accountable for our own studies,” says Aum. He also mentions that ACG Parnell has some of the best teachers who guided him every step of the way.

He also credits his time at ACG for expanding his horizon and thinking more globally about his potential. 

“When I started at ACG I never even dreamed of any of this, I never even thought of leaving Auckland for university. And the one thing they always drilled into us is to always give your hundred percent to everything, be wholehearted and always try your hardest. And so just throughout the years I’ve progressively got more and more understanding of things and each time I took a step ahead, I could see further ahead. And so every time I reached one goal, my next goal would be even further. Then I reached that goal, I created an even more optimistic goal just so that it kept pushing me to work harder and harder to reach those goals.”

And while Aum was able to expand his goals and achievements he did face some challenges in the leap from the public system into ACG. 

“Prior to ACG, I went to a very normal public school and I did pretty averagely there. And then from year seven to nine at ACG, I was in the fifties and sixties. I never did particularly well in my first few years at ACG because it was a big jump from public school to ACG. And then just over the years, that mindset of trying your hardest and setting new goals every time, slowly I got from 50 to 60 to 70 to 80 and then finally nineties in my last few years.” And it just shows like even something that may not seem realistic at the time, if you work towards it, you can definitely get there.”

While Aum’s aspirations in aerospace and space are a testament to his hard work, determination, and as well as academic achievement, there are other things from Aum’s time at ACG that have helped shape his success. 

“ACG inspired me to create a more organised mindset in terms of planning everything I do, making sure I’ve thought everything through so that I’m not walking into anything under-prepared. And it’s all these life skills that can be utilised in any situation that’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.”

And it’s very possible that Aum might draw on these life skills wherever on earth or off earth he might be.

Find out more about ACG Schools here.