
Jacksonville, FL
Hobbies and interests
Reading
Aerospace
Flying And Aviation
Business And Entrepreneurship
Skydiving
Archery
Animals
Beach
Human Rights
Snorkeling
Reading
Action
Classics
History
Politics
I read books multiple times per week
US CITIZENSHIP
US Citizen
LOW INCOME STUDENT
Yes
FIRST GENERATION STUDENT
Yes
Laila Al-Noumani
1x
Finalist
Laila Al-Noumani
1x
FinalistBio
Hi! I'm an aspiring pilot currently doing Sporty’s ground school. I hope to start flight training by August 2026. I currently work a part-time job while attending college. I am a dual enrolled High School student, but my classes are fully on my college campus. I also recently got a second job as a receptionist! I am trying to save up as much money as I possibly can this summer in hopes to kick-start my flight training in the fall. I have been continuously picking up shifts at both of my jobs since the start of my summer break.
I am a first-generation Iraqi Muslim-American based in Jacksonville, FL. Currently I'm balancing college coursework, ground school, and a part-time job in a pharmacy while also trying to keep a social life. I became interested in aviation after going skydiving, I took a leap of faith on my 18th birthday (pun intended🙃).
Aviation is not something I grew up ever thinking about, I never stepped foot into a plane until a paid school trip freshman year of highschool, it's not something I ever saw myself doing, aviation found me and it's been in my heart ever since.
One of my biggest goals after receiving my private pilot license is to fly my mom cross-country to Michigan. She's always wanted to go to Michigan, especially because it's a melting pot of arab culture and cuisine. She hasn't been in a plane since she arrived to America in 2001, I hope the next time she steps foot into an aircraft, I'll be at her side piloting the plane. Thank you for your time and consideration!
Education
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Associate's degree programSandalwood High School
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Political Science and Government
- Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Career
Dream career field:
Aviation & Aerospace
Dream career goals:
Research
Biological and Physical Sciences
Junior Civitian — Meeting/discussion2022 – 2022
Public services
Volunteering
Great Decisions Club — Member2025 – PresentVolunteering
Beaches Go Green — Member2025 – PresentVolunteering
Junior civitian — Club Historian2023 – Present
Future Interests
Advocacy
Politics
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Entrepreneurship
“I Matter” Scholarship
Living in a household of eight people with only one income means you learn very early that a family is a team. My father is the sole breadwinner for our large family, and carrying that massive financial weight entirely on his own is an immense, daily pressure. Because of this structural reality, selflessness is not a grand, occasional gesture in our home. It is a daily, practical requirement. Between balancing college coursework, studying for Sporty’s ground school, and working two jobs at a pharmacy and a receptionist desk, my personal schedule is completely packed to the brim. It would be incredibly easy to come home after a grueling twelve-hour day of work and classes, lock my bedroom door, and focus entirely on my own physical exhaustion. To me, embodying selflessness means actively refusing to retreat into my own bubble. It means showing up for my family even when my own energy is completely depleted.Because my father is the only person working to support eight people, the money I earn from continuously picking up extra shifts cannot just be locked away for my personal future. I am trying aggressively to save every single dollar possible to kickstart my flight training by August 2026, but the immediate needs of my family come first. I regularly step in to use my own paychecks to cover urgent household expenses, pay for bills, and buy groceries for our large household. Balancing the intense desire to fund flight hours with the immediate necessity of helping my father keep our home afloat requires a constant evaluation of priorities. Taking some of that financial burden off his shoulders is a non-negotiable duty for me, even if it means my personal timeline moves a bit slower.Beyond the financial contributions, selflessness shows up in the chaotic, quiet moments at home. With eight people living under one roof, the household logistics are a constant job. When I step off the clock at my job, my second shift begins at home. It means taking over the kitchen to cook large family meals, managing the heavy cleaning rotation, and making sure my siblings have what they need when my parents are too exhausted to move. Navigating these family responsibilities takes significant time away from my own ground school studying and completely eliminates my social life. However, protecting the peace of mind of my parents and siblings is vastly more important to me than my own personal leisure or comfort.This daily routine has completely reshaped my perspective on what it actually means to be a pilot. The aviation industry requires absolute discipline and a deep, instinctual sense of responsibility for the people around you. A pilot can never afford to be self-centered or hyper-focused on just their own seat in the cockpit. You have to constantly look out for the well-being of your crew and your passengers. By prioritizing my family’s daily survival and comfort over my own immediate desires right now, I am building that exact protective, responsible mindset. Helping fund our home and keeping our household running smoothly is how I practice that core value every single day, proving I have the character required to lead.