Specific: NASA is pretty open about what they're looking for and ways to get a foot in the door. Be the kid that bugs them, calls the switchboard, calls the PR folks, tries to get a human being for a moment. Make it a goal to actually talk to an astronaut on the phone. Start networking now.

General: I was a corporate art director but fell in love with the photo shoots. Took me 9 years, but I went free lance as a photographer in the late 90's and did lots of fashion and product. That was over three decades ago, I still do it but these days, more video than stills and I love it. Obsession and drive will take you a lonnnnnng way - drive and desire are amazing forces to harness. I was shooting free-lance work at night in my garage when everyone else was watching "friends" in a daze, and then getting up and returning to my cubicle the next morning. I've sat up all night learning to animate and composite green screen footage while devouring all the info I could. And it was a total blast. (And I taught my son stop motion animation when he was like 12, he's an animator for Adult Swim now and killin' it - he's got some of dad's DNA). Make a plan, adjust your plan, dig in and never think "I'm only 15" or whatever. Neil Armstrong was 15 once.