My beginning in aviation started with a phone call from the local EAA chapter asking if I would like to take a flight in an RV-12 in January 2020. I had never experienced such a joyous moment than when I arrived at the airport. Fifteen-year-old me was nearly in tears when I saw that bright blue airplane. At that moment, I was hooked. Now as a senior in high school, I am a commercial pilot and flight instructor who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. My grandfather, whom I did not have the pleasure of knowing, is my inspiration for flying. He was a Flying Tiger and flew the “Hump” during WWII. I was inspired by how he would drop candy from his plane for children and I know that he would be very proud that I get to fly children as a Young Eagle pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business, which may be my greatest challenge in life at 17 years old. I own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. My business, Cadenza Aviation, has been a way to fund my training. I offer aircraft rental and hangar leasing, which has given me lots of entrepreneurial experience. My little Cherokee has helped many pilots reach ATP minimums and has given multiple Young Eagle flights. We have recently started a leaseback program as well. I am beginning a leaseback on a Super Decathlon to teach aerobatics! This plane is my pride and joy because I can share my passion through instruction. My goals are to begin A&P school, earn a degree in business, and start a jet management firm with a maintenance branch. I have had the privilege of having female pilots as mentors throughout my journey and I hope to share their wisdom with the generation after me. Serving others is a gift. I started volunteering weekly at the Frontiers of Flight Museum where I have been able to inspire young children by teaching them the wonders of flying. My heart lies with my fellow volunteers, most of whom are veterans and retired pilots who love to tell me their life stories, which are valuable lessons. I strive to have a servant’s heart every day because many people need joy in their life. I want to have the ability to light up the room and provide someone with joy. One of my favorite ways of exemplifying this is through serving at the museum and through the National Honor Society. The biggest obstacle I face is being a senior in high school. I want to make sure I have a balance between school and flying. I have been able to do that very thing and run my business, Cadenza Aviation. With big goals, I am so grateful for the pilots mentoring me to help me overcome these obstacles. I even logged my first hours on a Citation 500 and a King Air C90. These aircraft gave me a taste of corporate aviation that I enjoyed immensely, but the airlines have my heart. This scholarship will help me be able to train for my MEI certificate while pursuing my plethora of aviation goals. I want to try everything aviation offers, from flying at the airlines to being an air show pilot.

In aviation, only seven percent of pilots are female. There have been multiple movements to try to increase the low percentage. Math is a common concept in aviation. As a pilot, we use many methods of math to calculate wind velocity, aerodynamic performance, and weight & balance problems. Most young girls picture them being a flight attendant. I’d like to implement a mentorship program in Texas to initiate a movement that will bring that seven percent to fifty percent or higher. A strong foundation in math is key to success in the aviation world. Leadership is a characteristic that everyone possesses. They either have a strong sense of leadership or they lack the characteristics needed to be a good leader. A leader needs to be driven, have a passion for what they do, and they need to be able to share their passion with others. These traits have been taught to me from a young age and I credit them to my success in aviation. I began flying in January of 2020 with a Young Eagles flight with my local EAA chapter. From that day on, I was hooked on flying. Aviation soon became my passion. I took ground school very seriously as a young freshman in high school. Now as a junior, I am a private pilot who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business that I intend on expanding in the near future. I fully own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. When I am not training in it, I pay for the plane by renting it to certified pilots. My future goals are to attend Baylor University with a major in Aviation Sciences. From Baylor, I will achieve my ATP hours minimum and pursue a job as an airline pilot. My passion within aviation is aerobatics. I plan on being the next Patty Wagstaff, a well-known aerobatic pilot. These experiences gave me a love of leading others and encouraging them to pursue their dreams. I have the drive, passion, and urge to share with others which has helped me develop as an individual. I plan on flying at Baylor University. This degree will help me achieve my dreams of becoming an airline pilot. By learning to be a pilot, my appreciation for education has grown exponentially. I have opened a world of possibilities by learning the trade of aviation. It will undoubtedly help me with my goals in the future. I would have never guessed as a young girl that I would become a pilot and business owner. Little did I know that math classes would help me improve my flying and business principles. I would have never dreamed that I would own my own airplane. I want to be a light to young girls to show them that they have what it takes to make it big in aviation and that math is crucial to their success.

In aviation, only seven percent of pilots are female. There have been multiple movements to try to increase the low percentage. Most young girls picture them being a flight attendant. I’d like to implement a mentorship program in Texas to initiate a movement that will bring that seven percent to fifty percent or higher. Leadership is a characteristic that everyone possesses. They either have a strong sense of leadership or they lack the characteristics needed to be a good leader. A leader needs to be driven, have a passion for what they do , and they need to be able to share their passion with others. These traits have been taught to me from a young age and I credit them to my success in aviation. I began flying in January of 2020 with a Young Eagles flight with my local EAA chapter. From that day on, I was hooked on flying. Aviation soon became my passion. I took ground school very seriously as a young freshman in high school. Now as a junior, I am a private pilot who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business that I intend on expanding in the near future. I fully own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. When I am not training in it, I pay for the plane by renting it to certified pilots. My future goals are to attend Baylor University with a major in Aviation Sciences. From Baylor, I will achieve my ATP hours minimum and pursue a job as an airline pilot. My passion within aviation is aerobatics. I plan on being the next Patty Wagstaff, a well-known aerobatic pilot. These experiences gave me a love of leading others and encouraging them to pursue their dreams. I have the drive, passion, and urge to share with others which has helped me develop as an individual. I plan on flying at Baylor University. This degree will help me achieve my dreams of becoming an airline pilot. By learning to be a pilot, my appreciation for education has grown exponentially. I have opened a world of possibilities by learning the trade of aviation. It will undoubtedly help me with my goals in the future. I would have never guessed as a young girl that I would become a pilot and business owner. I would have never dreamed that I would own my own airplane. I want to be a light to young girls around the state of Texas to show them that they have what it takes to make it big in aviation.

Leadership is a characteristic that everyone possesses. They either have a strong sense of leadership or they lack the characteristics needed to be a good leader. A leader needs to be driven, have a passion for what they do , and they need to be able to share their passion with others. These traits have been taught to me from a young age and I credit them to my success in aviation. I began flying in January of 2020 with a Young Eagles flight with my local EAA chapter. From that day on, I was hooked on flying. Aviation soon became my passion. I took ground school very seriously as a young freshman in high school. Now as a junior, I am a private pilot who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business that I intend on expanding in the near future. I fully own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. When I am not training in it, I pay for the plane by renting it to certified pilots. My future goals are to attend Baylor University with a major in Aviation Sciences. From Baylor, I will achieve my ATP hours minimum and pursue a job as an airline pilot. My passion within aviation is aerobatics. I plan on being the next Patty Wagstaff, a well-known aerobatic pilot. My biggest accomplishment isn't passing my written exam, doing aerobatics, or volunteering at the Frontiers of Flight museum; it is finding a "diamond in the rough" down at T15, Marlin Airport. My EAA chapter and I were looking to hold a Young Eagles rally for kids in a low-income town, a place where most of them had not even seen a Cessna, a town with potential. That place happened to be a small town about an hour from Waco, TX called Marlin. When I flew down to Marlin for the first time, I was scared of landing. The runway was in such bad condition and there were deer over by the hangars. I did a few low passes with my CFI, the vice president, Chris Sims, and we finally touched down without hitting a deer. Talking to the town, we made arrangements to fix just about everything, including clearing out the lake just a 2 minute walk from the tie-downs. This lake.... this lake had potential. We decided to use it as a seaplane base, currently it is in the process of becoming an official base thanks to the work EAA 34 and Marlin did. On November 7th, we began our rally not expecting many people, but we had over 200 people come out to the airport! We ended up flying over 50 Young Eagles and was able to share out love of flying with them. Since that day, I have been involved in the Young Eagles committee, and I am now planning a 3-day workshop for high school students that are interested in aviation. My love for flying has not gone unnoticed. I have the drive, passion, and urge to share with others which has helped me develop as an individual.

Leadership is a characteristic that everyone possesses. They either have a strong sense of leadership or they lack the characteristics needed to be a good leader. A leader needs to be driven, have a passion for what they do , and they need to be able to share their passion with others. These traits have been taught to me from a young age and I credit them to my success in aviation. I began flying in January of 2020 with a Young Eagles flight with my local EAA chapter. From that day on, I was hooked on flying. Aviation soon became my passion. I took ground school very seriously as a young freshman in high school. Now as a junior, I am a private pilot who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business that I intend on expanding in the near future. I fully own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. When I am not training in it, I pay for the plane by renting it to certified pilots. My future goals are to attend Baylor University with a major in Aviation Sciences. From Baylor, I will achieve my ATP hours minimum and pursue a job as an airline pilot. My passion within aviation is aerobatics. I plan on being the next Patty Wagstaff, a well-known aerobatic pilot. Technology in my airplane has inspired me to create safer technology for aircraft of all sorts. Technology keeps us safe, so I want my airplane to be technologically advanced so that I may prevent accidents from happening in the future.

Leadership is a characteristic that everyone possesses. They either have a strong sense of leadership or they lack the characteristics needed to be a good leader. A leader needs to be driven, have a passion for what they do , and they need to be able to share their passion with others. These traits have been taught to me from a young age and I credit them to my success in aviation. I began flying in January of 2020 with a Young Eagles flight with my local EAA chapter. From that day on, I was hooked on flying. Aviation soon became my passion. I took ground school very seriously as a young freshman in high school. Now as a junior, I am a private pilot who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business that I intend on expanding in the near future. I fully own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. When I am not training in it, I pay for the plane by renting it to certified pilots. My future goals are to attend Baylor University with a major in Aviation Sciences. From Baylor, I will achieve my ATP hours minimum and pursue a job as an airline pilot. My passion within aviation is aerobatics. I plan on being the next Patty Wagstaff, a well-known aerobatic pilot.

I began flying in January of 2020 with a Young Eagles flight with my local EAA chapter. From that day on, I was hooked on flying. Aviation soon became my passion. I took ground school very seriously as a young freshman in high school. Now as a junior, I am a private pilot who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business that I intend on expanding in the near future. I fully own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. When I am not training in it, I pay for the plane by renting it to certified pilots. My future goals are to attend Baylor University with a major in Aviation Sciences. From Baylor, I will achieve my ATP hours minimum and pursue a job as an airline pilot. My passion within aviation is aerobatics. I plan on being the next Patty Wagstaff, a well-known aerobatic pilot. If I were to receive a scholarship, I would put it towards my business. My business is how I intend to pay for my college education. That $1000 can turn into $10000 with my business.

Leadership is a characteristic that everyone possesses. They either have a strong sense of leadership or they lack the characteristics needed to be a good leader. A leader needs to be driven, have a passion for what they do , and they need to be able to share their passion with others. These traits have been taught to me from a young age and I credit them to my success in aviation. I began flying in January of 2020 with a Young Eagles flight with my local EAA chapter. From that day on, I was hooked on flying. Aviation soon became my passion. I took ground school very seriously as a young freshman in high school. Now as a junior, I am a private pilot who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business that I intend on expanding in the near future. I fully own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. When I am not training in it, I pay for the plane by renting it to certified pilots. My future goals are to attend Baylor University with a major in Aviation Sciences. From Baylor, I will achieve my ATP hours minimum and pursue a job as an airline pilot. My passion within aviation is aerobatics. I plan on being the next Patty Wagstaff, a well-known aerobatic pilot. Seven percent of pilots are women. I hope to increase this number by having a career in the field of science and technology.

Leadership is a characteristic that everyone possesses. They either have a strong sense of leadership or they lack the characteristics needed to be a good leader. A leader needs to be driven, have a passion for what they do , and they need to be able to share their passion with others. These traits have been taught to me from a young age and I credit them to my success in aviation. I began flying in January of 2020 with a Young Eagles flight with my local EAA chapter. From that day on, I was hooked on flying. Aviation soon became my passion. I took ground school very seriously as a young freshman in high school. Now as a junior, I am a private pilot who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business that I intend on expanding in the near future. I fully own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. When I am not training in it, I pay for the plane by renting it to certified pilots. My future goals are to attend Baylor University with a major in Aviation Sciences. From Baylor, I will achieve my ATP hours minimum and pursue a job as an airline pilot. My passion within aviation is aerobatics. I plan on being the next Patty Wagstaff, a well-known aerobatic pilot.

Leadership is a characteristic that everyone possesses. They either have a strong sense of leadership or they lack the characteristics needed to be a good leader. A leader needs to be driven, have a passion for what they do , and they need to be able to share their passion with others. These traits have been taught to me from a young age and I credit them to my success in aviation. I began flying in January of 2020 with a Young Eagles flight with my local EAA chapter. From that day on, I was hooked on flying. Aviation soon became my passion. I took ground school very seriously as a young freshman in high school. Now as a junior, I am a private pilot who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business that I intend on expanding in the near future. I fully own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. When I am not training in it, I pay for the plane by renting it to certified pilots. My future goals are to attend Baylor University with a major in Aviation Sciences. From Baylor, I will achieve my ATP hours minimum and pursue a job as an airline pilot. My passion within aviation is aerobatics. I plan on being the next Patty Wagstaff, a well-known aerobatic pilot. Since I own a Piper Cherokee, I have learned that maintenance is no joke. I take it very seriously. One way I have been able to learn about maintenance is by becoming an apprentice with my A&P. I have installed electronic ignition and an engine monitor on my airplane. I have learned that I have a passion for maintenance! I want to become an A&P so that I can work on my own airplane and to help others when they need it. I plan on either staying as an apprentice or I would like to enroll in the Aviation Institute of Maintenance. Maintenance has given me an appreciation for not only my airplane, but others as well. I also have a newfound respect for Airframe and Power-plant mechanics. They are the backbone of aviation.

It may be apparent that I love to fly, but my reason I need to fly is not so apparent on the surface. That is why I shall dive down deep to reveal my "why." I have been diagnosed with depression and from that depression comes suicidal tendencies. I truly believe that planes and pilots have kept me going. Aviation is more than a community, it is a family. The feeling I get at the airport is unlike anything I have ever felt, watching planes fly gracefully into the air. I never want to lose that feeling. A private pilot's license means I get to fly gracefully into the air, without having to worry about the problems of life on the ground. Flying is my freedom. Flying is my escape. It feels like I am closer to reaching my goal every day. When I picture myself as a captain at an airline or a pilot in the air force, I remind myself that while those dreams are wonderful and should be achieved, I have a mission to educate others on the joy of aviation. I want to be a light to others. I am tutoring my ground school peers in order for them to pass their written exams. I want to make them proud without the expense of their dreams. I am setting out on an incredible journey, standing in a time of challenge and controversy, ready to take on the world. Flying is a privilege that is not to be taken lightly. It requires quick thinking, confidence, passion, and many other qualities that a competent pilot should possess. The journey has begun and there is no turning back. Once I begin learning, I will never stop. This is my calling. The calling to soar!

It may be apparent that I love to fly, but my reason I need to fly is not so apparent on the surface. That is why I shall dive down deep to reveal my "why." I have been diagnosed with depression and from that depression comes suicidal tendencies. I truly believe that planes and pilots have kept me going. Aviation is more than a community, it is a family. The feeling I get at the airport is unlike anything I have ever felt, watching planes fly gracefully into the air. I never want to lose that feeling. A private pilot's license means I get to fly gracefully into the air, without having to worry about the problems of life on the ground. Flying is my freedom. Flying is my escape. It feels like I am closer to reaching my goal every day. When I picture myself as a captain at an airline or a pilot in the air force, I remind myself that while those dreams are wonderful and should be achieved, I have a mission to educate others on the joy of aviation. I want to be a light to others. I am tutoring my ground school peers in order for them to pass their written exams. A private pilot is just the beginning of stepping stones to my dreams and I think it may be the most special. I have decided that I would like to earn my wings by myself without the financial aid of my parents. I want to make them proud without the expense of their dreams. I am setting out on an incredible journey, standing in a time of challenge and controversy, ready to take on the world. Flying is a privilege that is not to be taken lightly. It requires quick thinking, confidence, passion, and many other qualities that a competent pilot should possess. The journey has begun and there is no turning back. The children I babysit have decided to become pilots because I have shared my love with them. I can proudly say that they can name a 737 or a Cessna in the sky. The influence I have on the children is the same influence I want to have on the rest of the world. Once I begin learning, I will never stop. The calling to soar!

I began flying in January of 2020 with a Young Eagles flight with my local EAA chapter. From that day on, I was hooked on flying. Aviation soon became my passion. I took ground school very seriously as a young freshman in high school. Now as a junior, I am a private pilot who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business that I intend on expanding in the near future. I fully own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. When I am not training in it, I pay for the plane by renting it to certified pilots. My future goals are to attend Baylor University with a major in Aviation Sciences. From Baylor, I will achieve my ATP hours minimum and pursue a job as an airline pilot. My passion within aviation is aerobatics. I plan on being the next Patty Wagstaff!

It may be apparent that I love to fly, but my reason I need to fly is not so apparent on the surface. That is why I shall dive down deep to reveal my "why." I have been diagnosed with depression and from that depression comes suicidal tendencies. I truly believe that planes and pilots have kept me going. Aviation is more than a community, it is a family. The feeling I get at the airport is unlike anything I have ever felt, watching planes fly gracefully into the air. I never want to lose that feeling. A private pilot's license means I get to fly gracefully into the air, without having to worry about the problems of life on the ground. Flying is my freedom. Flying is my escape. It feels like I am closer to reaching my goal every day. When I picture myself as a captain at an airline or a pilot in the air force, I remind myself that while those dreams are wonderful and should be achieved, I have a mission to educate others on the joy of aviation. I want to be a light to others. The aviation community impacted me and made me a strong advocate for ANYONE to become a pilot.

It may be apparent that I love to fly, but my reason I need to fly is not so apparent on the surface. That is why I shall dive down deep to reveal my "why." I have been diagnosed with depression and from that depression comes suicidal tendencies. I truly believe that planes and pilots have kept me going. Aviation is more than a community, it is a family. The feeling I get at the airport is unlike anything I have ever felt, watching planes fly gracefully into the air. I never want to lose that feeling. A private pilot's license means I get to fly gracefully into the air, without having to worry about the problems of life on the ground. Flying is my freedom. Flying is my escape. It feels like I am closer to reaching my goal every day. When I picture myself as a captain at an airline or a pilot in the air force, I remind myself that while those dreams are wonderful and should be achieved, I have a mission to educate others on the joy of aviation. I want to be a light to others.

I began flying in January of 2020 with a Young Eagles flight with my local EAA chapter. From that day on, I was hooked on flying. Aviation soon became my passion. I took ground school very seriously as a young freshman in high school. Now as a junior, I am a private pilot who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business that I intend on expanding in the near future. I fully own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. When I am not training in it, I pay for the plane by renting it to certified pilots. My future goals are to attend Baylor University with a major in Aviation Sciences. From Baylor, I will achieve my ATP hours minimum and pursue a job as an airline pilot. My passion within aviation is aerobatics. I plan on being the next Patty Wagstaff!

It may be apparent that I love to fly, but my reason I need to fly is not so apparent on the surface. That is why I shall dive down deep to reveal my "why." I have been diagnosed with depression and from that depression comes suicidal tendencies. I truly believe that planes and pilots have kept me going. Aviation is more than a community, it is a family. The feeling I get at the airport is unlike anything I have ever felt, watching planes fly gracefully into the air. I never want to lose that feeling. A private pilot's license means I get to fly gracefully into the air, without having to worry about the problems of life on the ground. Flying is my freedom. Flying is my escape. It feels like I am closer to reaching my goal every day. When I picture myself as a captain at an airline or a pilot in the air force, I remind myself that while those dreams are wonderful and should be achieved, I have a mission to educate others on the joy of aviation. I want to be a light to others.

It may be apparent that I love to fly, but my reason I need to fly is not so apparent on the surface. That is why I shall dive down deep to reveal my "why." I have been diagnosed with depression and from that depression comes suicidal tendencies. I truly believe that planes and pilots have kept me going. Aviation is more than a community, it is a family. The feeling I get at the airport is unlike anything I have ever felt, watching planes fly gracefully into the air. I never want to lose that feeling. A private pilot's license means I get to fly gracefully into the air, without having to worry about the problems of life on the ground. Flying is my freedom. Flying is my escape. It feels like I am closer to reaching my goal every day. When I picture myself as a captain at an airline or a pilot in the air force, I remind myself that while those dreams are wonderful and should be achieved, I have a mission to educate others on the joy of aviation. I want to be a light to others. Flying is my fuel.

It may be apparent that I love to fly, but my reason I need to fly is not so apparent on the surface. That is why I shall dive down deep to reveal my "why." I have been diagnosed with depression and from that depression comes suicidal tendencies. I truly believe that planes and pilots have kept me going. Aviation is more than a community, it is a family. The feeling I get at the airport is unlike anything I have ever felt, watching planes fly gracefully into the air. I never want to lose that feeling. A private pilot's license means I get to fly gracefully into the air, without having to worry about the problems of life on the ground. Flying is my freedom. Flying is my escape. It feels like I am closer to reaching my goal every day. When I picture myself as a captain at an airline or a pilot in the air force, I remind myself that while those dreams are wonderful and should be achieved, I have a mission to educate others on the joy of aviation. I want to be a light to others. My bucket list item is to fly any type of jet! I’ve taken steps to achieve this by becoming a private pilot.

It may be apparent that I love to fly, but my reason I need to fly is not so apparent on the surface. That is why I shall dive down deep to reveal my "why." I have been diagnosed with depression and from that depression comes suicidal tendencies. I truly believe that planes and pilots have kept me going. Aviation is more than a community, it is a family. The feeling I get at the airport is unlike anything I have ever felt, watching planes fly gracefully into the air. I never want to lose that feeling. A private pilot's license means I get to fly gracefully into the air, without having to worry about the problems of life on the ground. Flying is my freedom. Flying is my escape. It feels like I am closer to reaching my goal every day. When I picture myself as a captain at an airline or a pilot in the air force, I remind myself that while those dreams are wonderful and should be achieved, I have a mission to educate others on the joy of aviation. I want to be a light to others. This act of educating others brings me confidence. Confidence means being bold and steadfast in your beliefs. You must be able to defend yourself while being kind to others.

It may be apparent that I love to fly, but my reason I need to fly is not so apparent on the surface. That is why I shall dive down deep to reveal my "why." I have been diagnosed with depression. I truly believe that planes and pilots have kept me going. Aviation is more than a community, it is a family. The feeling I get at the airport is unlike anything I have ever felt, watching planes fly gracefully into the air. I never want to lose that feeling. A private pilot's license means I get to fly gracefully into the air, without having to worry about the problems of life on the ground. Flying is my freedom. Flying is my escape. It feels like I am closer to reaching my goal every day. When I picture myself as a captain at an airline or a pilot in the air force, I remind myself that while those dreams are wonderful and should be achieved, I have a mission to educate others on the joy of aviation. I want to be a light to others.

I began flying in January of 2020 with a Young Eagles flight with my local EAA chapter. From that day on, I was hooked on flying. Aviation soon became my passion. I took ground school very seriously as a young freshman in high school. Now as a junior, I am a private pilot who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business that I intend on expanding in the near future. I fully own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. When I am not training in it, I pay for the plane by renting it to certified pilots. My future goals are to attend Baylor University with a major in Aviation Sciences. From Baylor, I will achieve my ATP hours minimum and pursue a job as an airline pilot. My passion within aviation is aerobatics. I plan on being the next Patty Wagstaff, a well-known aerobatic pilot.

I began flying in January of 2020 with a Young Eagles flight with my local EAA chapter. From that day on, I was hooked on flying. Aviation soon became my passion. I took ground school very seriously as a young freshman in high school. Now as a junior, I am a private pilot who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business that I intend on expanding in the near future. I fully own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. When I am not training in it, I pay for the plane by renting it to certified pilots. My future goals are to attend Baylor University with a major in Aviation Sciences. From Baylor, I will achieve my ATP hours minimum and pursue a job as an airline pilot. My passion within aviation is aerobatics. I plan on being the next Patty Wagstaff, a well-known aerobatic pilot.

I began flying in January of 2020 with a Young Eagles flight with my local EAA chapter. From that day on, I was hooked on flying. Aviation soon became my passion. I took ground school very seriously as a young freshman in high school. Now as a junior, I am a private pilot who is looking to continue my aviation journey so that I may continue to inspire young children to fly, continually find a new challenge to overcome, and prove to myself that I am a good, safe pilot. I am deeply motivated by my passion for aviation. I was recently able to start a small aircraft rental business that I intend on expanding in the near future. I fully own a 1973 Piper Cherokee with the cutest “Hershey Bar” wings. When I am not training in it, I pay for the plane by renting it to certified pilots. My future goals are to attend Baylor University with a major in Aviation Sciences. From Baylor, I will achieve my ATP hours minimum and pursue a job as an airline pilot. My passion within aviation is aerobatics. I plan on being the next Patty Wagstaff, a well-known aerobatic pilot.

Once I become enthralled with a dream, it becomes hard to push it out of my mind. So I do the only thing I can do... I act on it. When I accomplish this dream, just as quickly as the previous, a new one pops into my head; and so it begins, this cycle of wonder known as my life. Some of my present dreams are getting my pilot's license and maintaining a 99.3 GPA as a sophomore in high school. I may only be 16, but I believe that my youth is one reason that I have to prove to myself that nothing will hold me back. I am completing these goals by becoming involved as a volunteer at the Frontiers of Flight Museum and an active member of my EAA chapter, all while completing my excessive amounts of homework! I receive ground school from the volunteer pilots at the museum and now I have been trained in aircraft from 737's to FA-18's to Huey helicopters; I enjoy all of them without a preference for any of the aircraft, I just want to learn. In five years, I plan on being a junior at Baylor University studying Aviation Science. If I keep up my studies in aviation and school, getting my PPL through my CFII or beyond, and keeping my dream alive, I have no doubt that I can achieve this desire. My ultimate goal would have to be becoming an airline pilot, specifically an United Airlines Captain. I want to see the world and inspire others just as I have been inspired by seeing a person with outstanding character and an ever-present smile in the cockpit. Once I earn my PPL, I won't stop there. I am going straight to my Instrument Rating, Commercial, CFI, CFII, MEI, etc. I believe my possibilities are endless. I want to be an aerobatic pilot as well. Once I get enough hours, I would like to become a Young Eagles pilot and give back to the community. My long-term goal is now within my reach: I want to fly 787's for American Airlines. This dream does comes with many steps, but I have them already planned out. I have many mentors who are willing to help me reach my goal of becoming an airline pilot, one of them being Joe Swift, a Purple Heart Vietnam veteran. He and I volunteer at the Frontiers of Flight Museum. Joe has been incredibly supportive of my journey as a pilot and teaches me ground school while we sit underneath our FA-18 Blue Angel at the museum (Her name is Kathryne). One day I hope I will be the volunteer at the museum who teaches the younger volunteers about the wonders of flying.