From summer camp lead with space united to an intership at Blue Origin
"I truly could not have predicted that filling out a postcard all those years ago would lead me here today."- Arya Jodh
Arya Jodh
Blue Origin Intern Spring 2026 · Kent, WA · Space United Camp Lead · Rising Junior, RPI (CS + Economics)
The Beginning
Arya Jodh was a high school student with a genuine hunger to learn — the kind who sought out STEM events and showed up curious. It was that drive that brought her to a Michael P. Anderson program event at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. She came curious to learn, but she didn't expect the event to change her trajectory.
The keynote speakers that day were Camilo and Sebastian Tobacia — selected by the museum to represent Space United and Club for the Future. The brothers spoke about their mission at the intersection of space, sports, and education, and Arya was instantly captivated. Here were people who had built something real, something that made the world of space feel genuinely accessible.
Later that day, Space United led a Postcards to Space activity — a Club for the Future initiative to send handwritten messages to space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket. The idea of sending something all the way to space and back was unlike anything Arya had encountered. She picked up a card and filled it out.
"I had loved space since I was a kid, and sending something to space seemed like the coolest thing in the world." - Arya Jodh
Arya, self-described as shy, quietly submitted her postcard to the brothers. But as more students turned in their cards, her parents nudged her to step out of her comfort zone — to go talk to Camilo and Sebastian about space, sports, and everything in between. She did. And that conversation changed everything.
Building something real
Space United was in the early stages of building out support for the Space United Academy camps, and the timing was perfect. By the end of that conversation, Arya had agreed to interview for a volunteer camp lead role. She was an instant standout — selected to join the team that would bring the Space United Summer Camp to life at the Renton Family First Community Center.
What made Arya special wasn't just her enthusiasm. She was a natural bridge between staff and students — kids responded to her energy immediately. As a longtime Taekwondo practitioner herself, she understood firsthand what it meant to be a young athlete, and that connection translated on the floor. Two summers in a row, she showed up and delivered.
Her second summer was even stronger — Arya returned with a year of college-level technical coursework behind her, and her contributions to the camp reflected it. "It was one of the coolest experiences of my life to truly see how much of an impact early access to these kinds of resources can expand a child's world to the whole universe," she said.
The mentorship that opened the door
As Arya continued through college, she and Camilo kept in contact — mentorship calls where she sharpened her resume, refined her interview approach, and mapped out her goals. That sustained relationship mattered. When Camilo learned of an upcoming internship cohort at Blue Origin, he didn't just mention it — he challenged Arya to apply, and they prepared for it together.
Arya was nervous. She was excited. She was a total trooper through the process. And then the email came in: she had been selected for the Blue Origin intern cohort for Spring 2026.
"Every generation has the potential to surpass the achievements of those before them — but they need guidance, inspiration, and support to get there." — Arya Jodh
Full circle
Arya recently wrapped her internship — and along the way got to share a lunch break with Camilo, now her co-worker at Blue. They laughed about where it all started: a postcard, a shy teenager, and a nudge from her parents to go say hello. She's eager to continue her education, with her eye set on returning to Blue Origin one day as a full-time engineer.
For anyone on the fence about getting involved, Arya keeps it simple: "Volunteering doesn't have to be a huge commitment or anything fancy — it could be as simple as going to talk at a school or helping out with postcards for an hour after work." The work is personal to her. She was shaped by mentors who showed up, and she intends to do the same.
Note: Club and New Glenn are discussing next steps for the Postcards to Space program. We will share updates with you when we have more details. Thank you for your patience as Team Blue works this out!
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