Astronomy teacher Allyson Shepherd finds beauty in not just the distant stars, but also the curiosity of the young minds of the students that she teaches at Ojai Valley School.
Ms. Shepherd is passionate about what she teaches, noting that it is more than just the study of planets.
“Learning about what happens in outer space helps us understand what’s here on planet Earth, which is a concept that can be hard to grasp,” Ms. Shepherd said.
Ms. Shepherd’s daughter is also learning about the study of astronomy, having a great influence from her mother. Ms. Shepherd’s students are shaped by that same influence, with many saying the subject can be complex and intimidating, but that they focus instead on what they love about the class.
“I love learning about stars and constellations, and Ms. Shepherd brings the joy into learning about astronomy even though some aspects of it tend to be quite difficult,” junior astronomy student River Hooks said.
Ms. Shepard grew up near a university observatory where her fascination began early, and now she finds joy in introducing students to the mysteries of the cosmos.
The fundamental value of astronomy, according to Ms. Shepherd, lies in understanding our own existence.
“Everybody has seen the moon, everybody has seen stars outside, but the real magic is understanding how they got there and why they exist,” Ms. Shepherd said.
For students intimidated by the emptiness of space, it is clear that it isn’t just about complex calculations, but about curiosity, wonder, and understanding our place in the universe.
Ms. Shepherd also finds interest from science communicators such as Neil deGrasse Tyson. She uses storytelling to make the subject engaging.
Technology has made astronomical exploration more accessible than ever, and now students can use smartphone apps that can identify constellations and celestial objects, rather than the hassle of using a classic telescope.
Ms. Shepherd expresses her love for astronomy and how she would like to start looking more into it, even outside of the classroom.
“Astronomy is just another way of learning about the area surrounding us, ” she said.