During my junior year of high school, I was selected to attend a two-week Solo Flight Academy. It was an exciting and intense program designed to train students to fly a Cessna 172. The experience was already a major milestone for me as a young Black woman entering the field of aviation, and being the first pilot in my family is a major accomplishment. Aviation is an industry where people who look like me are still underrepresented. One particular day during the academy tested my leadership skills in a way I didn’t expect. On the fourth day of training, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued during our morning weather briefing. Many students, including myself, were nervous, as most of us were just beginning to understand how to interpret weather data and what it meant for flight safety. Some were visibly anxious, unsure if the day’s training would be canceled or how we would proceed. I decided to step up and be a calming presence for my peers. Drawing on what we had learned so far in ground school, I encouraged a few of my classmates to sit with me and review METARs and TAFs, the weather reports pilots use to make go/no-go decisions. I helped break down the codes so we could understand what they were really saying, and we worked together to ask meaningful questions when the instructors arrived. I also suggested we use the delay to practice emergency procedures and quiz each other on aircraft systems. This proactive mindset helped shift the mood from panic to productivity. Even though I wasn’t the most experienced student, I showed leadership by using knowledge, communication, and empathy. I learned that leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it's about being willing to guide others through uncertainty and help them find solutions together. This moment deepened my passion for aviation and showed me how STEM skills can directly support safety and emergency decision-making. As I prepare to study aviation science and emergency management in college, I plan to continue combining these two fields. My long-term goal is to become a pilot who specializes in disaster relief operations and humanitarian missions. Whether it’s delivering supplies after a hurricane, using drones to assess wildfire damage, or helping coordinate airlifts during medical emergencies, I want to use my skills to make an impact where it’s needed most. Growing up, I’ve always looked for ways to serve others and make a difference. Now, with my background in aviation, leadership, and STEM, I feel empowered to contribute to both my local community and the wider world. I believe representation matters, and I hope that by following this path, I can inspire other young people, especially people that look like me to pursue careers in science, aviation, and emergency response. My mission is to give back to the community and inspire people of all ages. I will be the change I want to see in the world. Leadership starts with being prepared, staying grounded, and choosing to act when others are unsure. I’m ready to take that mindset into the sky and beyond.