Brinkley Field (right) with fellow NASA intern Alexis Cotton from Ft. Worth

Brinkley Field is ready to get back to work at Lake Highlands High School after spending part of her summer at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Following completion of NASA’s High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) Program where she and other outstanding Texas students studied science, technology, engineering and math during the spring semester of their junior year, she was one of just 345 rising seniors selected for the week-long internship, all-expenses-paid.

“I learned so many things about space and NASA that I would’ve never learned otherwise,” Brinkley told me. Her week included touring Johnson facilities, hearing from NASA scientists and working with NASA engineers to design a mission to Mars.

Back in LH, Brinkley’s had to pull her head out of the clouds. Her senior year will be a busy one as she dances again as a Wrangler and plays club and Wildcat soccer. Brinkley has committed to play soccer next year for the University of Texas, appropriate for the striking beauty whose hair will match the ‘Horns burnt orange uniforms.

Brinkley plans to study pre-med, then go on to medical school to become a dermatologist. “I can’t wait for UT, but I am loving my senior year,” she said. “My classes are great and I love seeing my friends every day.”

After Friday night football games at The Boneyard, Brinkley, Dad John, Mom Susan, and Brother Davis load into the car and drive to Austin to watch Brinkley’s future teammates play Lady Longhorn soccer. “My biggest blessing is always having my family loving me unconditionally and supporting me in all my endeavors-be they academic, athletic, etc.” said Brinkley. “My parents are my biggest role models.”