A North Bay high school student got an opportunity to have her question answered by a pair of Canadian astronauts.
Emilie Perron, a grade 10 student at Algonquin, was among thousands of Canadians who sent in questions to be answered during a live question and answer period online recently.
Her question was one of eight chosen to be answered by Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques.
"I asked how astronauts handle their mental health during training and while they are literally in space and what kind of supports are available to them to help them through this," said Perron.
"Jeremy talked about teamwork and how it is important to rely on each other and that you can do a lot more working together than if you are alone."
Perron, who would like to pursue a career as either an aerospace engineer, an astrophysicist, or even an astronaut, says David Saint-Jacques answered her in french.
"He said astronauts learn this as part of their training as they go in isolation in caves, cold climates or underwater. He also said it is important to confront problems before they get too big and to give people their privacy during all this," she recalled.
Perron was very excited to realize her question was going to be answered.
"I was pretty happy when they said my question and my name and everything," she said.
"It was exciting, I have met Jeremy Hansen before so it was pretty interesting to hear what he had to say. I think it is important in times like this, astronauts have a lot of insight during things like isolation because that is what they do for a living. Some of them spend more than six months isolated from everyone they know and the whole world, so they always have something interesting to teach everybody."
Being someone who is fascinated by science, Perron realizes that COVID-19 may not make her sick. However, she believes teenagers need to be smarter and more responsible about following the new social distancing rules.
"I think some teens are just too selfish at times and I think they need to think about others before themselves," she said.
"Maybe they do not see everything that is going on but it is also important to think about others and people who are struggling or at risk including the elderly. So they need to do what they can to help those people out and help their family that they are in quarantine with and take things seriously and do what you can to make yourself a better person out of all this."
She is also trying to keep a positive attitude.
"I try not to worry about too much as a kid you cannot worry about the things you cannot control so you have to do what you can to protect yourself and protect those around you," said the 15-year-old.
"I have been trying to stay busy with the work the teachers are giving us. I am going out for walks and runs. I have been reading a lot and learning about space, astronomy and astronauts."
