My name is Anna VarnHagen and I'm a current student at Western Michigan University studying Aviation Flight Science. I hold a Private Pilot License and my Instrument Rating and am currently working towards my Commercial Pilot License, however, if you asked me a year ago that this is where I'd end up, I'd have not believed you. The story of how I got into aviation leads to my professional goals within the industry and how I plan to achieve them in order to grow my passion and hopefully inspire passion within future aviators. It all started my senior year of high school. My school had an amazing program called CTE (Career and Technical Education) that allows students to explore career related jobs. I had time in my schedule to play around with and saw an aviation science class was available. As a kid, I thought being a flight attendant would be cool so I gave the class a go! Little did I know, less than a year later I'd be able to actually fly a plane. In class, we worked on weight and balance, navigation logs, basic aerodynamics involved in flight, and everything in between. It was difficult, tedious, took a lot of effort... and I loved it. But that's not where my passion started. Some generous donors gave the class resources for student discovery flights. It was a beautiful day in October when I first got to fly. I remember the memory like it was yesterday. I had an enjoyable time... but that still didn't spark my passion. Fast forward to November. The class still had the ability to give students flight lessons and I'd be a fool not to take that opportunity! One particular day, the winds were intense, the sky was turning sour... yet I still wanted to fly. My instructor, the valiant man he is, went up with me for pattern work. As we were climbing, turbulence hit. Teeth clattering, stomach twisting, goosebump inducing turbulence. All I can remember thinking was to keep my heading correct and stay coordinated. My hands were sweating as I was gripping the yoke, but I wouldn't back down. My instructor turned to me and said, "Anna, most grown men would be crying to get on the ground by now, you are fearless". In that moment, it clicked. I was going to be a pilot. I took the summer in between my senior year of high school and freshman year of college to finish out my PPL and I loved every second of it. Before aviation came into my life, I'd describe myself as a quiet introverted person. Aviation changed me as a person for the better. I now know I can, in fact, do hard things. I am fearless, bold, and brave. I'm a pilot. It's my goal to introduce aviation to other future aviators who might find passion within the industry. To achieve this goal of mine, I hope to become a Certified Flight Instructor. By earning the All Chemical Transport Empowering Future Excellence Scholarship, I can go even further into my training and attain my goal. WMU currently offers a CFI and a CFII course and it is my hope to soon take advantage of this opportunity this next summer. I cannot wait for the day I am able to take students up for flights and see their passion grow. It is because I had such an amazing instructor that I got to be where I am. I hope to continue on in his footsteps and help others reach for the sky... literally!