From a young age, Joshua Klymenko’s eyes have been set on the stars. The Apollo missions fascinated him. Not just because humans had ventured into the great beyond, but because of the machines that made such exploration possible. Rovers, probes, and autonomous vessels that could travel where humans could not captured his imagination. For Joshua, space wasn’t just about wonder; it was about possibility.
Overcoming First-Generation Challenges
As a first-generation college student, Joshua has had to carve his own path. Financing college was one of his toughest battles. Scholarships were scarce, especially since many were designed for very specific groups. Despite the financial strain, Joshua pushed forward. He worked for two years while attending school full-time, balancing classes, a job, and family responsibilities. His parents stepped in only when necessary, but the struggle to stay afloat financially was constant.
Yet Joshua’s persistence never wavered. He continued to pursue his passion for engineering, taking on hands-on projects like building a generator, a motorbike, and even an exo-arm in high school, each one deepening his knowledge and reinforcing his resolve to become an engineer.
Building a Path Through Engineering and Outreach
Now pursuing Mechanical Engineering, Joshua is focused on mechatronics, with a dream of one day designing rovers and probes for space exploration. His current internship reflects this passion: as the sole electronics and hardware engineer on his team, he carries immense responsibility, learning to adapt and grow under pressure. His guiding lesson: “Work hard and work smart. Without both, you won’t get anywhere.“
But Joshua’s journey doesn’t stop at personal achievement. He is also the founder of Conquer Stars, Not Humans (CSiNHA), a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring others through space exploration and education. CSiNHA’s mission is clear:
- Educate the public, especially youth, about the benefits of space research
- Promote understanding of how space investment improves life on Earth
- Support financial literacy and educational development in local communities
- Host events, programs, and outreach initiatives to spread these values
Through this work, Joshua hopes to help others “see the dream in the stars” and channel their curiosity and passion into making Earth and humanity’s future in space better.
Looking Ahead: A Vision in Orbit
When asked about his goals for the future, Joshua doesn’t hesitate: “In space. Literally.” His dream is to serve as a NASA astronaut while also building his nonprofit into a launchpad for others who want to enter space-related fields. He wants to ensure the next generation says yes to opportunities that might have once scared them and pushes themselves past boundaries.
For Joshua, the pursuit of space exploration isn’t just about discovery. It’s about perseverance, education, and community. Or as he likes to say with a smile:
“Your free energy will decrease during a class. But the professor’s amusement will increase. Entropy wins again.”
-Text Generated with ChatGPT (not the quote), because I don’t know how to frame my life.
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