For my tenth birthday, my parents decided to surprise me with a discovery flight in a small Cessna 172. I had no previous interest in planes but my parents figured it would be a fun experience, and they were more than right. Ever since I flew for an hour in that small, low wing airplane, I was hooked. I was fascinated by the aeronautical science behind flight and how the endless elevation seemed to effortlessly clear my mind of worries. I decided on that flight that I would become a pilot. Over the years, through many hours of research and many pros/cons charts, I concluded that I wanted to focus on becoming a commercial airline pilot. I went through ground school and spent all my free time for a year studying multiple books of aeronautical information for private pilot purposes. My friends at school, coworkers at my barista job, and regulars at my go-to local coffee shops, saw the hours of dedication and effort poured into my notes and diagrams as I drove myself to memorize every drop of information which would aid me in my aviation journey. After a year of focused studying, I passed my private pilot written exam on March 1st, the first day of women's history month. This date will always hold a special meaning in my heart because it is the day that I proved to my ten-year-old self that she can succeed in whatever she puts her mind to. All of my effort had made me confident in myself and my dreams, a feeling I turn to when the flight hours get tiring. When I become an airline pilot, I hope to continue inspiring myself and other females to learn more about the incredible world of aviation. Though it is still a male-dominated field, there are more waves of female pilots joining the airlines than ever before. I hope to continue this trend, being an example to other women that they too can break through the gender barriers and enjoy what makes them happy regardless of their copilots. After passing my written exam on the first day of women’s history month, I began taking flight lessons at my local airport. I worried about how I will pay for twice a week flight lessons and that worry has not yet ceased with a solution. But, I am working as many hours at my job in the meantime, which still does not cover all my expenses. However, I learned that these worries dissipate the second that the plane's wheels lift off the runway. With every hundred feet of altitude, I feel more at peace with myself and my accomplishments thus far. I continue to be proud of myself for the effort and discipline I have shown myself and others while working towards my private pilot certificate, which is only the first step towards my aviation career. With this certification, I will feel more prepared as I work towards an aviation flight science degree at college. Though my airline pilot career goal started as simply what I wanted to do with my life, it has since grown to how I will be the best version of myself possible and how I will encourage others (specifically other women) to do the same. I will continue working each and every day towards my aspirations with the relentless drive and ambition that this life goal continues to provide me.

For my tenth birthday, my parents decided to surprise me with a discovery flight in a small Cessna 172. I had no previous interest in planes but my parents figured it would be a fun experience, and they were more than right. Ever since I flew for an hour in that small, low wing airplane, I was hooked. I was fascinated by the aeronautical science behind flight and how the endless elevation seemed to effortlessly clear my mind of worries. I decided on that flight that I would become a pilot. Over the years, through many hours of research and many pros/cons charts, I concluded that I wanted to focus on becoming a commercial airline pilot. I went through ground school and spent all my free time for a year studying multiple books of aeronautical information for private pilot purposes. My friends at school, coworkers at my barista job, and regulars at my go-to local coffee shops, saw the hours of dedication and effort poured into my notes and diagrams as I drove myself to memorize every drop of information which would aid me in my aviation journey. After a year of focused studying, I passed my private pilot written exam on March 1st, the first day of women's history month. This date will always hold a special meaning in my heart because it is the day that I proved to my ten-year-old self that she can succeed in whatever she puts her mind to. All of my effort had made me confident in myself and my dreams, a feeling I turn to when the flight hours get tiring. When I become an airline pilot, I hope to continue inspiring myself and other females to learn more about the incredible world of aviation. Though it is still a male-dominated field, there are more waves of female pilots joining the airlines than ever before. I hope to continue this trend, being an example to other women that they too can break through the gender barriers and enjoy what makes them happy regardless of their copilots. After passing my written exam on the first day of women’s history month, I began taking flight lessons at my local airport. I worried about how I will pay for twice a week flight lessons and that worry has not yet ceased with a solution. But, I am working as many hours at my job in the meantime, which still does not cover all my expenses. However, I learned that these worries dissipate the second that the plane's wheels lift off the runway. With every hundred feet of altitude, I feel more at peace with myself and my accomplishments thus far. I continue to be proud of myself for the effort and discipline I have shown myself and others while working towards my private pilot certificate, which is only the first step towards my aviation career. With this certification, I will feel more prepared as I work towards an aviation flight science degree at college. I look forward to the independence that college requires as well as the dedication needed for my particular STEM degree. To be a pilot means to be focused and dedicated to one’s own purpose. Each day I work towards these personality traits that make a good pilot within my self-driven studies and other commitments (school and work). Though my airline pilot career goal started as simply what I wanted to do with my life, it has since grown to how I will be the best version of myself possible and how I will encourage others to do the same. I will continue working each and every day towards my aspirations with the relentless drive and ambition that this life goal continues to provide me.

In its purest form, the natural drive to make the best life for oneself is what has always motivated my life choices. Growing up with years of broken bones and heart complications as a newborn, I was always seen as the fragile child in my family. Though I joked about it throughout my childhood, this title pressured me into a small corner. Even with all the childish aspirations that I thought of pursuing, I was never able to because of the hesitancy instilled in me from this safety-centered mindset. Thus, I resorted myself to being a quiet, soft-spoken academic. I settled into this lifestyle of timidness and comfort, thinking that it would provide me the best life possible since I was not endangering myself or my opinions. It was the most irrational decision of my life so far. In July 2023, I bought myself a 2021 Ninja 650 sport motorcycle. I was still in the process of getting my motorcycle endorsement and had not yet told my mom about the new addition in the garage. I was completely unprepared for the change that this decision would bring to my life. This bike, which started out as a random thought as I fell asleep a month prior, broke through years for hesitancy and missed opportunities. My parents were just as surprised as I was in my decision. Out of all three of their children, their shy, education-focused middle child was the one interested in joining their biking hobby? My hesitancy transferred back to the people who had taught me it in the first place. I concluded after my first ride that rather than hiding in my bubble of normal activities, I would do my best to experience all the adventures I had hoped for as a child. This re-established sense of self allowed me courage to pursue the career that has interested me since my tenth birthday; I would become an airline pilot. I found myself riding my motorcycle to new cafes, parks, airport viewing areas, and beaches in order to create a plentiful list of personal study spaces. I began taking flight lessons at an airport 20 minutes to the north after passing my private pilot written exam with an 80%. Each success and exciting experience only furthered my self-motivated commitment to enjoying life’s many opportunities, no matter the initial sense of danger. By the time I had reached the skill and flight hours to solo, the pride of my efforts completely overcame the worrying thought that flying the plane was entirely my responsibility. The joy of knowing I could do these dangerous activities distracted me from the fact that I had no safety net. However, I did not attempt these hobbies until myself and others were confident in my abilities to do them. Though this rapid shift in my lifestyle during my sophomore year of high school lead to many engaging experiences and self-fulfilling hobbies, I have still remained in touch with my sense of self prior to the change. Once I embraced it, the driving force of finding comfort in new adventures has pushed a better sense of self into my lifestyle. To my family, I will always be the fragile little girl with lots of ambition. But to me, I will be the girl who broke out of her percieved safety bubble and began enjoying life as it should be: with a sense of healthy danger.

Ever since I took a discovery flight for my tenth birthday, I knew that I was going to be a pilot. Over the years, through many hours of research and plentiful pro and cons charts, I have concluded that I will be a commercial airline pilot. As I started towards this goal, I spent countless hours at school, work, and a rotation of five local cafes, to study for my private pilot written test. After months of drawing diagrams and rewriting acronyms till I have them all memorized, I passed my written test with an 89 percent. Specifically, I passed my test on March 1st, the first day of women's history month. This date will always hold a special place in my pride because it was the day that I proved to myself and others whom were rooting for me that when I put all my effort and time into something, I can succeed. Since passing my test, I have been working on clocking flight hours with my CFI at my local airport. After taking a few lessons, I quickly realized that the joke of aviation being a very expensive hobby was not actually a joke. I began to worry about the future, but reminding myself that I will find a way to make this aspiration of mine work even if the flight lessons are over my budget. Since then I have cut back my flight lessons to once or twice a week and continuing to pick up as many hours at work as I mentally can. I am willing to do whatever it takes to have my future plan succeed but I am reaching a point where I am having to sacrifice my financial stability for this dream. I look for scholarships and grants to help with flight training costs since after all, flight training is an investment that will pay itself back over time, or so everyone tells me. However, it is extremely difficult as a high school student to financially tolerate the pressure that comes along with clocking flight hours. But when my worries for my current finances affect my mood, I remember why I wanted to go into this career in the first place. I wanted to help inspire other young girls like myself to join the male-dominated fields and prove that they can be just as successful as men. Personally, I find being in the air to be a very relaxing to my mind and the science behind aircrafts to be fascinating. Reminding myself of these reasons help ease my worries about flight training costs and I am able to continue learning and working hard for my future. Along with my flight training, I have been doing hours of research and charting to determine which flight colleges I would like to apply to. I am looking at which one's would provide me with the best prestige with my intended bachelor's in flight science since coming from a good college would help my job applications for airlines in the future. I will continue to work towards my career goals of a commercial airline pilot by focusing on gaining the experience/flight hours, aeronautical knowledge, and certifications required for the position.

The show "Car Masters: Rust to Riches" is not only entertaining as cars are restored and built but also motivating to a woman entering a male-dominated field. Aiming to be a commercial airline pilot and working towards that dream for years means I will have to learn how to deal with some sexist pushback. This car restoration show allows me to learn how women in male-dominated fields, like Constance on the Gotham Garage crew, handle the different needs in the workplace. As a woman going into aviation, I know that I will need to apply my knowledge and skills to the best of my abilities for every flight, much like how Constance applies her skills to each car build. The dynamic in the garage is very inclusive of all the crew's personalities and this gives me hope that I will find people I work with who will allow me to be myself while also being professional. For example, Caveman is known for his demolition skills and hammer swinging. The crew is able to make jokes about it which makes the car building process more fun for everyone. The crew is welcoming when someone is going through a bad day in their personal life and they celebrate when others are having a good day. This makes the workplace seem positive and uplifting for everyone no matter their gender or specific skills. This show also provides viewers with the highs and lows of the business so they get a well-rounded view of what goes on with their shop and not just the good things. This is important for both producers, crew, and viewers as it allows everyone to see the show and the business as it is instead of just the glorified parts. If the show was only to show the good parts of when a car is built and sold with a fat paycheck quickly, it would make the crew sad when that doesn't happen, as it often doesn't. For viewers, it is a good reminder that everyone has good and bad days and that with the power of resilience and dedication, they are able to continue succeeding even with the daunting setbacks. In conclusion, the show "Car Masters: Rust to Riches" is a very meaningful and inspirational show along with being intriguing with the car building process. I find myself being reminded good lessons about balance in life and the importance of a ratio of fun and professionalism in workplaces. This show helps ease my worries about finding my place as a woman in the mostly male career field of aviation. I cannot wait for the next season to come out!

The character Pam from the show "The Office" has always resonated with me since I first watched the show years ago. Since the first season, she has been the shy but brilliant character who is going through life wherever it takes her. In the beginning she wasn't too thrilled to be a receptionist at the business; however, over time she learned to find joy in the small things of her job and the friends she made along the way. In this way, everyone can relate to Pam. There are times in life when situations disappoint you and seem boring but once you spend more time in them, they become surprisingly enjoyable. For me, this was like playing tennis. When I joined my tennis team, I thought it would be just another sport. However, once I met the people and got to know them along with improving my tennis skills, I felt that I finally found a place where I belong. My tennis team grew to be another family to me, much like the Office characters think of each other as family no matter how chaotic at times. This show has also helped me see that there are times where both realism and creativity can share space. I have applied this to my work efforts in my schooling as I try to have fun with the assignments while also completing them to the best of my ability. This helps me not experience burnout like other paper offices might because I allow myself to think creatively like Michael Scott does in the show. "The Office" has not only helped me appreciate the lucky things that I have in my own life, but also realize the need for a ratio of productivity and imagination.

About a year ago I was recommended, by social media algorithms like #BookTok, the book "Song of Achilles" written by Madeline Miller. I decided to give it a read since I had always appreciated Greek mythology and thought this novel to be a story of a Trojan War hero. However, this book is not just a simple story like other Greek mythology books. Rather, this book showcases the points of views of people surrounding the hero, who see him through his highs and lows, instead of just the story of the hero. This book heavily impacted my reading since as I am now constantly looking for similar books. I had learned to crave the opinions and stories of the lesser told characters and what their views of the hero are. This writing style allows the reader (myself) to see other sides of the hero that would have been otherwise hidden from public view. This makes for a vastly more intriguing story line when compared to a simple Greek myth. Since reading this incredible novel, I find myself being more open-minded in my life as well as the books I chose. Other books with a base of retold Greek mythology which have impacted me as a person are: "Herc" by Phoenicia Rogerson, "Ariadne" by Jennifer Saint, and "Circe" by Madeline Miller (the same author as "The Song of Achilles"). These books have helped me through breakups and successful peaks. They have not only allowed me to be more open minded as previously mentioned, but have also helped me be more detail oriented since many things that are overlooked are actually very important later on. My bookshelf has grown from random books here and there to shelves of Jennifer Saint, Madeline Miller, Natalie Haynes, and Margaret Atwood. I find myself rereading the Greek mythology retold stories that I have collected over the year as to remind myself of the many stories of resilience and the power of working in the background. I wish that more people would read books which include the perspectives of otherwise overlooked characters such as wives and childhood friends because it allows people to see that the special things in life can be found in the details and not in the big picture generic story. That is why I am glad that these books have found their way onto #BookTok where other people can discover their hidden beauties. I am lucky to have found the genre of books that has helped me grow as a reader and as a more inclusive person and will continue reading these well-written retold Greek novels for years to come.

Charlotte is a motivated tennis instructor and barista who spends all of her free time reading in cafes or studying for her private pilots license. Ever since a random discovery flight on her tenth birthday, she has aspired to be a pilot. Over the years she has narrowed down the broad career choice of being a pilot, through lots of pros and cons charts from many hours of research, to being a commercial airline pilot. She spent a year (at school, work, and a rotation of five local cafes) studying the many parts of aeronautical knowledge required for a private pilot. On March 1st, she passed her written exam on her first attempt. This was a very important day to take it on since March 1st is the first day of women's history month and Charlotte hopes to inspire other women to follow her and join the male-dominated field of aviation. After passing this test for part of her certification, she began flight lessons. Though they are incredibly expensive in comparison to a high schooler's budget, she finds that the information and peace of mind that they provide are worth the investment. Every time she goes on a flight, the worries from other things in her life are left on the ground and during those hours she is able to strictly focus on the skills she needs to build for her future. Aviation has improved her personal traits such as dedication and determination through the many hours of studying for only an hour or two of productive flying. She continues to work hard on reviewing and memorizing the private pilot aeronautical knowledge in between her scheduled flights and ground lessons with her certified flight instructor. Though there is a lot of work that needs to be put into actually learning and being able to utilize the material, she finds the challenge to be good for her as a future pilot and being a better person. Her aviation goals have provided Charlotte a stable vision for her future which allows her to feel comfortable in her present conditions. This comfort also allows her to have time and energy to help others with concepts that she has previously studied and understands. By helping to transfer her studied knowledge to others, she is also able to be an example of ambition and drive for them so that they may apply these traits to their own hobbies or careers. Charlotte hopes to continue learning about aviation for the rest of her life even after becoming a commercial airline pilot and is very grateful that she has been able to find her passion this early in life.

Charlotte is a motivated tennis instructor and barista who spends all of her free time reading in cafes or studying for her private pilots license. Ever since a random discovery flight on her tenth birthday, she has aspired to be a pilot. Over the years she has narrowed down the broad career choice of being a pilot, through lots of pros and cons charts from many hours of research, to being a commercial airline pilot. She spent a year (at school, work, and a rotation of five local cafes) studying the many parts of aeronautical knowledge required for a private pilot. On March 1st, she passed her written exam on her first attempt. This was a very important day to take it on since March 1st is the first day of women's history month and Charlotte hopes to inspire other women to follow her and join the male-dominated field of aviation. After passing this test for part of her certification, she began flight lessons. Though they are incredibly expensive in comparison to a high schooler's budget, she finds that the information and peace of mind that they provide are worth the investment. Every time she goes on a flight, the worries from other things in her life are left on the ground and during those hours she is able to strictly focus on the skills she needs to build for her future. Aviation has improved her personal traits such as dedication and determination through the many hours of studying for only an hour or two of productive flying. She continues to work hard on reviewing and memorizing the private pilot aeronautical knowledge in between her scheduled flights and ground lessons with her certified flight instructor. Though there is a lot of work that needs to be put into actually learning and being able to utilize the material, she finds the challenge to be good for her as a future pilot and being a better person. Her aviation goals have provided Charlotte a stable vision for her future which allows her to feel comfortable in her present conditions. This comfort also allows her to have time and energy to help others with concepts that she has previously studied and understands. By helping to transfer her studied knowledge to others, she is also able to be an example of ambition and drive for them so that they may apply these traits to their own hobbies or careers. Charlotte hopes to continue learning about aviation for the rest of her life even after becoming a commercial airline pilot and is very grateful that she has been able to find her passion this early in life.

My personal bookshelf is constantly expanding to include more and more Greek mythology retold stories by authors such as Natalie Haynes and Madeline Miller. This genre has been intriguing to me for years now and I find the lessons in the stories easily applicable to situations in my own life though they are based on events hundreds of years ago. Many original Greek myths are told about a man (the worshipped hero) and his life exploits. However, in the retold myths (many of which are written by women), the hero is not the main character but rather the hero's family members or people he meets along the road are the ones who tell the hero's story from their point of view. This allows for a more open story of the hero and includes his failures and flaws that only people close to him are able to see. This is able to humanify him for the reader along with telling the readers how the main hero acted behind closed doors which may be opposite to his societal image. This switch between what the public sees and what the family sees is an important concept to be noticed in these stories since this is true for humans nowadays too. Celebrities (the heroes of today) are not gods, they are human too. Though their societal image may be one of perfection, like the ancient Greek heroes, it is important to remember that they are human too and they are different people with those whom are close to them behind closed doors. The point of views of the side characters used in many of the retold myths are a successful way to show the readers this concept along with giving them a new story to read instead of the renowned classic Greek myths. Personally, this concept of social image vs real personality has been applied to my own thoughts of people I know. When a parent or someone else close to me is having a bad day, I am more willing to see them as a human and having bad days than simply that they are a bad person. I find myself being more open minded in my views of people in public too since I haven't gotten to know their story and I am only seeing one side of them. This open mindedness has helped me realize the many ways which I can get to my unchanged goal of being an airline pilot. I now see that there are many more ways to get hours and become certified than the one accelerated flight school plan that I was looking into before. Being open minded, as these books teach me to be, has helped me become a more defined and thoughtful person.

I chose to go into an aviation career after the discovery flight my parents arranged for me for my tenth birthday. Ever since going up in a Cessna that day, I knew undoubtedly that I would spend my life working towards being the best pilot I can be. I spent countless hours at school, work, and a rotation of five local cafes studying the aeronautical knowledge required for a private pilot to know. I passed my private pilot written test on March 1st after a year of ground school, which is coincidentally the first day of women's history month. This was a really important day for myself since I hope that my achievements in aviation will inspire other girls to join the male-dominated field. I have always wanted to be the reason that a little girl decides that she will do something meaningful with her life and work towards it daily. I aim to example traits for success, such as passion and dedication, for myself and others as I continue working towards my aspirations. By focusing on being the most successful version of myself, I feel even more motivated that I can accomplish my career goals along with being an example of how to be a better person for others.

Math has become an integral part of my life through my school studies along with my aviation passions. When studying the mechanical diagrams for Cessna engines becomes too stressful, I am able to go back to studying the weight and balance math calculations which provide a calming conclusion to my study sessions. Calculations, like those for an airplane's weight and balance, are satisfying when I understand the processes of how to do them. Though math can also be intriguing when it is misunderstood. When I see my math teacher work out a complicated multi-step problem in the notes packet, I am not scared of the unknown knowledge, like in my History or English classes, but rather I am interested in how she was able to conclude the answer through the many steps. Math provides me a sense of clarity about how my actions affect other decisions, like in life. Math also makes things easier to understand by having multiple routes to get to the same conclusion, which is good in helping me be more open-minded about other peoples' thought processes. In general, math is helpful not only in my aspirations of being an airline pilot but also in helping me be a more successful and more well-rounded person.

The lyric from Olivia Rodrigo's gut-wrenching album that held the most weight with me was "It takes strength to forgive, but I don't feel strong" from her song "the grudge". In this phrase, she acknowledges the fact that forgiveness takes strength and cannot simply just be given. True forgiveness requires effort from both sides: the one who hurt to change their actions and the one who was hurt to recognize the changes and move on with life. However, once the damage to a relationship is done, it is may take much more effort than expected to fix, and that is assuming that the people want to fix it. Growing up, my adopted brother targeted and abused me in many different ways. When I spoke up about it when I was fourteen, I wasn't expect the kind of backlash from my family for speaking up that occurred. My family expected me to go to therapy to work through it and eventually be able to forgive him and move on, while he only gave fake apologies and no one could make him feel remorse. It felt unfair that I had to be the one to put in effort to fix the damage while no one could make him care what he had done. I decided that I didn't want to put in that effort and I would go to therapy in order to better myself and be able to move on without forgiveness in my heart. I was strong enough to forgive myself for not speaking up about it sooner but I chose not to put in the effort that Rodrigo references in this lyric in order to fix the relationship with him. I found that over time, I was able to find more peace in my situation and be proud of myself for speaking up about the abuse even though people wished that I would just conform and forgive him so that family dinners would be less awkward. However, it is my right as the abused to decide if I want to forgive and I am proud to stick with my decision. Olivia Rodrigo's song "the grudge" helped me through this unexpected backlash and I don't know how well I would have gotten through the everchanging family dynamics without it. Sometimes I still listen to it while I drive myself separately to family events and remind myself that I am strong enough to forgive myself but I can still chose not to forgive others with this strength.

Ever since my parents surprised me with a discovery flight for my tenth birthday, I knew that I was going to be a pilot. Over the years, I have narrowed it down to a commercial airline pilot. I am proud to look back and recognize that my passion for aviation (since evoked when I turned ten) has never dwindled or changed. I have spent countless hours in school, at work, and at a rotation of five cafes nearby, to study for my written private pilot exam which I passed on March 1st, the first day of women's history month. This was one of my best personal and academic achievements thus far because of how it proved to myself and others rooting for me that when I put my mind to something and work towards it every day, I can succeed. Since then, I have started doing private pilot flight lessons out of a nearby airport at least twice a week and have never been more sure of my future plan. Though the plentiful hours spent studying could have instead been spent hanging out with friends or investing in a different hobby, I would not go back and change my actions if I could. Since beginning my aviation journey, I have seen the importance of discipline and passion required for success. These traits can be implemented into other aspects of my life, like my tennis team. I have been team captain of the varsity tennis team for years now and I always find myself trying to be the best leader that I can be. I have been able to pass on these life-changing skills taught to me through my aviation studies, such as dedication and routine, to my tennis teammates as their leader. I find that the persistence that I put into my aviation studying and personal tennis practices can be inspiring to others and they are able to apply that vigor into their own hobbies. I look forward to my career in aviation, not only because being in the air helps clear my mind, but also so that I may experience other successful traits which may then be passed onto others through my own actions. Aeronautics is not only the inspiration for my education but the ways in which I may become a better person and leader. Though at times I may be exhausted from writing acronyms and drawing diagrams, I know confidently that there is no other career that I would rather work towards.

For my tenth birthday, my parents decided to surprise my with a discovery flight in a Cessna. I had no previous interest in planes but my parents figured it would nonetheless be a fun experience, and they were more than right. Ever since I flew for an hour in that small low wing airplane, I was hooked. I was fascinated by the science behind flight and how being so high above the ground seems to effortlessly clear my mind of all my worries. I decided in that flight that I would become a pilot. Over the years, through many hours of research and plenty of pros and cons charts, I concluded that I wanted to focus on becoming a commercial airline pilot. I went through ground school and spent all my free time for a year studying multiple books of aeronautical information for private pilot purposes. My friends at school, coworkers at my barista job, and regulars at my go-to local coffee shops, saw the hours of dedication and effort poured into my notes and diagrams as I craved to memorize every drop of information which would aide me in my aviation journey. After a year of studying, I passed my private pilot written exam on March 1st, the first day of women's history month. This date will always hold a special meaning in my heart because it is the day that I proved to my ten-year-old self that she can succeed in whatever she puts her mind to. When I become an airline pilot, I hope to continue inspiring myself and other females to learn more about the incredible world of aviation. After passing my written exam, I began taking flight lessons at my local airport. I worried about how I will pay for twice a week flight lessons and that worry has not yet ceased with a solution but I am working as many hours at my job in the meantime, which still does not cover all my expenses. However, I learned that these worries dissipate the second that the plane's wheels lift off the runway. With every hundred feet of altitude, I feel more at peace with myself and my accomplishments thus far. I continue to be proud of myself for the effort and discipline I have shown myself and others while working towards my private pilot certificate, which is only the first step towards my aviation career.

Ever since I took a discovery flight for my tenth birthday, I knew that I was going to be a pilot. Over the years, through many hours of research and plentiful pro and cons charts, I have concluded that I will be a commercial airline pilot. As I started towards this goal, I spent countless hours at school, work, and a rotation of five local cafes, to study for my private pilot written test. After months of drawing diagrams and rewriting acronyms till I have them all memorized, I passed my written test with an 89 percent. Specifically, I passed my test on March 1st, the first day of women's history month. This date will always hold a special place in my pride because it was the day that I proved to myself and others whom were rooting for me that when I put all my effort and time into something, I can succeed. Since passing my test, I have been working on clocking flight hours with my CFI at my local airport. After taking a few lessons, I quickly realized that the joke of aviation being a very expensive hobby was not actually a joke. I began to worry about the future, but reminding myself that I will find a way to make this aspiration of mine work even if the flight lessons are over my budget. Since then I have cut back my flight lessons to once or twice a week and continuing to pick up as many hours at work as I mentally can. I am willing to do whatever it takes to have my future plan succeed but I am reaching a point where I am having to sacrifice my financial stability for this dream. I look for scholarships and grants to help with flight training costs since after all, flight training is an investment that will pay itself back over time, or so everyone tells me. However, it is extremely difficult as a high school student to financially tolerate the pressure that comes along with clocking flight hours. But when my worries for my current finances affect my mood, I remember why I wanted to go into this career in the first place. I wanted to help inspire other young girls like myself to join the male-dominated fields and prove that they can be just as successful as men. Personally, I find being in the air to be a very relaxing to my mind and the science behind aircrafts to be fascinating. Reminding myself of these reasons help ease my worries about flight training costs and I am able to continue learning and working hard for my future.

Ever since my parents surprised me with a discovery flight for my tenth birthday, I knew that I was going to be a pilot. Over the years, I have narrowed it down to a commercial airline pilot. I am proud to look back and recognize that my passion for aviation (since evoked when I turned ten) has never dwindled or changed. I have spent countless hours in school, at work, and at a rotation of five cafes nearby, to study for my written private pilot exam which I passed on March 1st, the first day of women's history month. This was one of my best personal and academic achievements thus far because of how it proved to myself and others rooting for me that when I put my mind to something and work towards it every day, I can succeed. Since then, I have started doing private pilot flight lessons out of a nearby airport at least twice a week and have never been more sure of my future plan. Though the plentiful hours spent studying could have instead been spent hanging out with friends or investing in a different hobby, I would not go back and change my actions if I could. Since beginning my aviation journey, I have seen the importance of discipline and passion required for success. These traits can be implemented into other aspects of my life, like my tennis team. I have been team captain of the varsity tennis team for years now and I always find myself trying to be the best leader that I can be. I have been able to pass on these life-changing skills taught to me through my aviation studies, such as dedication and routine, to my tennis teammates as their leader. I find that the persistence that I put into my aviation studying and personal tennis practices can be inspiring to others and they are able to apply that vigor into their own hobbies. I look forward to my career in aviation, not only because being in the air helps clear my mind, but also so that I may experience other successful traits which may then be passed onto others through my own actions. Aeronautics is not only the inspiration for my education but the ways in which I may become a better person and leader. Though at times I may be exhausted from writing acronyms and drawing diagrams, I know confidently that there is no other career that I would rather work towards.

As a sport motorcycle rider, it is not too surprising that I listen to Heavy Metal music. This genre allows me a way to express my feelings while I ride, along with giving me a sense that I am not alone in these feelings. It is human nature to worry about the future, no matter how safe and secure it may seem at times. Ever since I took my first flight (on my tenth birthday), I knew that I was going to be a pilot. I narrowed this broad career down over the years to a commercial airline pilot. Much like music (heavy metal in specific), flying planes helps clear my mind and ease my anxiety of the unknown future. I have worked towards this career goal throughout high school, even taking my aviation books to my part time barista job. I plan to continue this aviation journey into college and getting a bachelor's degree in an aviation major. However, flight lessons get very expensive really fast. I have pushed myself to my mental and physical limits over the past few years between school, work, and learning all the aviation knowledge that I can. Yet even with all this tremendous effort, I still get worried about flight lesson payments. I need this scholarship to be able to continue working towards my perfect career and being able to experience the difficulties and personal developments along the way. With these challenges at such a young age, I have been able to realize the importance of perseverance and hard-work in the creation of success. But success also requires rest periods in order to continue learning at one's best capabilities. I find that this mental rest comes easiest to me on sunset motorcycle rides with heavy metal blasting in my helmet speakers (specifically "Astronomy" by Blue Oyster Cult or a classic by Iron Maiden). It is quite ironic to me how music that can be so stereotypically "angry" can have the opposite effect and be very calming and helpful in alleviating worries (both personal and professional). For me, heavy metal music in particular is the key to my success as a student and part of the backbone for my future aspirations.