Can a girl playing with toy cars grow up to be a NASA engineer? Julia Stankiewicz proves that the answer is a resounding yes! Her story is an inspiring journey from childhood automotive fascination through engineering studies to working at NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). Meet the Polish alumna of the Rafał Brzoska Foundation who demonstrates that dreams really do come true, and the cosmos is wide open to her!

From Toy Cars to the Stars

As a young girl, Julia loved taking toy cars apart to discover how they worked. She was fascinated by everything related to technology and science. Unfortunately, her passion wasn’t always accepted by her peers in kindergarten; she was once told that “girls don’t play with cars.”

But Julia didn’t give up. She turned her sights toward astronomy and began dreaming of space. She knew she wanted to uncover the secrets of the universe and build rockets. Throughout school, Julia encountered teachers who supported her passion and helped develop her talent. Thanks to them, she gained self-confidence and began competing in mathematics competitions.

After graduating high school, she moved to England to study engineering, later continuing her education in Germany and France. During her studies, she completed an internship at Rolls-Royce, where she worked on aircraft engine design.

Rafał Brzoska Foundation: Supporting Dreams

As a scholar of the Foundation, Julia has proven that supporting young talent is an investment in the future. Thanks to her determination and the support of the Rafał Brzoska Foundation and other institutions, she succeeded in making her dreams a reality. At NASA, her work included cartography, visualizations, and the design and construction of a drilling platform for analog Martian sample research.

Next Stop: The Moon

Julia is currently working on the Lunar Gateway project—a space station that will orbit the Moon. This is the next giant leap in her career and a chance to make a tangible contribution to space exploration.

An Inspiration for Generations

Julia’s story is proof that it is worth following your passion and embracing challenges. She is an inspiration to young people everywhere, particularly for girls dreaming of a career in STEM.

Want to learn more about Julia’s full story?

Read the featured article in Vogue.