Most kids go into senior year with little to no idea of what they want to do. I am not like most kids, as I found my purpose at a very early age. My grandpa had a friend who was a pilot and he took me for a flight. It was a cool day in the spring of 2012, I walked around the plane with him as he did his preflight checks He showed me everything you have to do before takeoff, touching every inch of the plane, making sure the ailerons, flaps, rudder and propeller were all in tip top shape. As we finished our preflight inspection, I knew this was my calling, as the most boring part of the flight had me intrigued and captivated. From that one fateful day I have dedicated my life to learning about and pursuing aviation.
This concept of gliding through the air with the elegance of an eagle has always had me intrigued. Every time I think or talk about aviation I lose all sense of time. There have been instances where I would be doing research on aviation for 3-4 hours and it felt like 10 minutes. I love talking about this topic, it is an endless conversation. When I was younger my mom would ask me aviation questions, because she loved watching as I would ramble on and on about aviation and my dream of flying her in a 737 one day. Even before I took the controls for the first time I was always fascinated by flying.
This fascination is what drives me to dedicate my life to learning and growing in the world of aviation. The captivation that began when I was a kid is one of the many reasons why I am pursuing my interest in aviation. I see myself succeeding and being able to fulfill my dreams of becoming a pilot. While my passion for aviation helps to keep me interested and engaged, my strong work ethic and ability to stay organized gives me the means to succeed at pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Aviation.
While I am still early in my journey and career of being a pilot, I foresee myself at the controls as the plane rockets down the runway, then leaps off the ground and begins gliding through the air. Each time I go down that runway I would get one step closer to the dream of becoming a professional pilot. I have started the first steps in accomplishing my goals by taking private pilot lessons. I currently have to drive over an hour each way for lessons. I completed my first solo flight earlier this year which continues to fuel my interest in flying. I have researched the variety of avenues to become an airline pilot. I am looking forward to becoming a CFI, CFII and MEI so I can share my passion with others who are interested in aviation.
I live on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula which comes with many travel challenges. During my junior year this became all too apparent as my Calculus teacher suffered a life threatening medical event. She had to be airlifted to a speciality hospital in order to save her life. Had this not been an option, she would have not survived the event. I would like to return to my wonderful community as a Life Flight pilot so others do not have this opportunity taken away from them by not having pilots available.
On my Discovery Flight, my instructor handed me a pen and told me to let it sit flat on my hand. He reduced engine power and pitched down as I watched, mesmerized, the pen floating out of my hand and toward the back of the plane. The sensation of a zero-G maneuver plays out as if it’s still happening each time I remember this moment. After that, I could never turn back from the world of aviation.
A passion for flying was developed early in my life, influenced by two family members who have held distinguished careers as pilots. My cousin flew Marine helicopters and earned the privilege of flying Marine One for a President. My great-uncle flew B-24s for covert OSS missions during World War II, continued his love for flying with Eastern Airlines for three decades, and volunteered himself for Mercy Medical Angels. He flew until his passing at age 98. Their impressive stories sparked motivation to create my own aviation path.
My Discovery Flight resulted from a year-long effort to identify what I wanted after high school. I entered tenth grade curious about how I could turn my lifelong interest in aviation into a career. I enrolled in a career planning course and researched forms of piloting positions and schooling. Before I ever flew a single-engine plane, I had a near-complete understanding of every option a student pilot had and began forming the process I would take to become an airline pilot. I only needed a flight to confirm my ambitions were pursuable, and my discovery experience showed me I was making the right choice.
Though pilots are not required to hold a degree, going to college has always been my goal. I spent much of my time the past two years searching for universities that offer four-year flight programs and studies in additional aspects of the aviation industry. Being a Washingtonian, I also desire to remain in-state.
Central Washington University has become my dream school by intersecting all my needs. I just applied to their aviation program, choosing its in-depth flight school to earn every rating needed to become a flight instructor and later enter the airlines. I intend to double-major in Aviation Management to broaden my understanding of the aviation business, expanding my career opportunities and industry connections.
I'm also interested in pursuing an Airframe and Powerplant Certificate in college. This requires immense studying and is known for its complexity, but in passing the exam I'd enter my flight career having an intense understanding of aircraft systems. I hope to use this knowledge to visualize areas of concern and make the best choices possible to retain safety.
Additionally, at Central, I'll have outlets to involve myself in the campus and aviation community. I look forward to joining the local Women in Aviation Chapter and EQuAl Club, allowing me to advocate for and expand diversity within flight and the university. Having these outlets matches my drive to help people feel welcome.
As a junior, I was Vice President of my school's Gender-Sexuality Alliance, a group aimed at creating a safe space for people of all identities. I helped plan and run weekly meetings, provided comfort to those struggling the best I could, and defended the group when we were targeted by those who did not want a club like ours in the school. I learned the most crucial part of community involvement is to not be idle when facing challenges, but to stand up and openly support the people you believe in. As a pilot, I will remain a leader that ceaselessly supports my team.
