Today, while setting a new background on my Firefox new tab, I stumbled upon a picture of a galaxy. It instantly took me back to the days when I dreamed of becoming an astronomer, searching for answers about the mysteries of the universe.
As a child, I was fascinated by the stars. Growing up in a remote part of Northeast India, the nights were truly dark-especially during frequent summer power cuts. My family and neighbors would gather on the terrace, enjoying the cool breeze and chatting. I would look up at the sky, full of questions about the stars that no one around me could answer. Without the internet, my only sources of knowledge were random books and encyclopedias. I even borrowed schoolbooks from higher grades just to read chapters about the solar system and the universe. My fascination with astronomy grew so much that I dreamed of becoming an astronomer, even as most of my peers aspired to be astronauts, which seemed more popular at the time. When I mentioned my dream, many thought it sounded boring and academic.
As I got older, I naturally gravitated toward science subjects. With internet access, I started reading more about astronomy and the universe, often through books on my Kindle app. My ambition to become an astronomer only intensified. At the same time, I developed a passion for computers, experimenting with Linux and various distributions on my PC. However, my hometown began to change rapidly. Streetlights became common, and power cuts grew rare. The night sky lost its darkness, and the stars faded from view. Without the deep, dark sky, my fascination with astronomy slowly faded away.