My interest in aviation began during my senior year of high school, when I took a flight to visit a friend out of state. It was a routine trip, but for me, it was a turning point. As I watched the ground disappear beneath the clouds and felt the rhythm of takeoff, I became captivated by the entire experience. It wasn’t just the thrill of flying — it was the realization that behind every flight was a team of skilled professionals working with precision, discipline, and purpose. That moment ignited a passion in me, and I began seriously exploring aviation as a career path. Since then, I have been intentional about immersing myself in opportunities that help me grow both technically and as a leader. One of my proudest accomplishments is founding a registered student organization at Western Michigan University called L.I.F.E., which stands for Learning Insight for Future Endeavors. I started L.I.F.E. because I saw a gap — many students, including myself, were navigating the transition to adulthood without clear guidance on real-world topics like financial literacy, professional development, and leadership growth. I wanted to create a space where students could come together to learn skills that aren’t always taught in the classroom but are essential for success after graduation. Leading L.I.F.E. has taught me a great deal about responsibility, initiative, and teamwork. From writing the organization’s constitution to recruiting members, planning events, and collaborating with faculty, every step required persistence, clear communication, and a vision for long-term impact. Most importantly, it taught me that leadership isn’t just about being in charge — it’s about creating value for others, empowering them to grow, and making space for diverse voices. These experiences align with what aviation demands: strong leadership, the ability to work under pressure, and a mindset focused on continual growth and preparation. Whether flying a plane or managing operations on the ground, aviation professionals are responsible for lives, logistics, and maintaining high standards — all things that excite me and that I am working hard to be prepared for. Ultimately, my goal is to build a career in aviation where I can continue to lead, inspire, and grow — just as I’ve done through L.I.F.E. I’m passionate about helping others rise and about being part of something bigger than myself. I believe that’s what leadership is all about, and I look forward to bringing that spirit with me into the aviation industry.

My journey as a leader has been shaped by my passion for innovation, my drive to create meaningful change, and my dedication to pursuing ambitious goals. When I took on the role of managing social media for a student organization, I saw it as an opportunity to harness the power of digital platforms to engage and inspire my peers. I worked diligently to communicate our vision and activities in a way that resonated with our audience. Through creative content and strategic thinking, I was able to boost engagement and build a strong online presence. This experience taught me the importance of effective communication and how to create a sense of belonging within a community. With the experience I gained through one student organization, I decided to create my own. Starting a new student organization has been one of the most exciting and challenging ventures I’ve undertaken. I saw a need for growth and improvement within our community and decided to take action. This initiative has allowed me to set clear goals, rally support, and create a structure that will enable our organization to thrive. I’m not just following established paths; I’m blazing new trails, and I find immense satisfaction in building something from the ground up. The enthusiasm and drive I bring to this project are contagious, and I’m thrilled to motivate others to join me in this journey. Throughout doing all of this, I have created a new path in my personal life. Becoming the first pilot in my family is a dream that I’m passionately pursuing. Taking flight classes requires a level of dedication, discipline, and resilience that I’m fully committed to. This journey is about more than personal achievement; it’s about breaking new ground and setting high standards for myself and those around me. Each step I take towards becoming a pilot exemplifies my belief in dreaming big and working hard to turn those dreams into reality. Whether managing social media, starting a new organization, or pursuing aviation, I consistently demonstrate a clear vision and the ability to inspire others to share in that vision. My success in social media management has honed my skills in conveying messages clearly and engagingly, which is crucial for any leader. Creating a new student organization highlights my creativity and willingness to innovate, addressing unmet needs and driving progress. Pursuing flight classes and aiming to become the first pilot in my family reflect my strong will and perseverance, essential for overcoming obstacles and achieving ambitious goals. I strive to empower those around me, whether through engaging social media content, rallying support for a new organization, or inspiring others with my journey towards becoming a pilot. My leadership journey is a testament to my diverse talents and unwavering commitment to making a positive impact. I am a visionary leader, a dedicated innovator, and an inspiring individual, poised to achieve great heights and lead others towards shared success.

My journey into aviation began with a seemingly ordinary event that turned into a life-changing experience. A few years ago, I took a flight to visit a friend in another state. As the plane took off and soared into the sky, I was captivated by the sensation of flying and the intricate coordination required to operate an aircraft. The view from the window, the complex yet seamless operations of the crew, and the technology involved sparked a deep curiosity and passion within me. This single flight ignited my desire to understand more about aviation and eventually led me to pursue a career as a pilot. Leadership, to me, is about fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. In various group projects and team settings, I have always prioritized creating a space where each member can voice their ideas and concerns. By actively listening to my peers and colleagues, I ensure that diverse perspectives are considered, leading to more well-rounded and effective solutions. This approach not only builds trust but also encourages open communication and collaboration. While inclusivity is crucial, I also understand the importance of keeping everyone on task to achieve our goals efficiently. In leadership roles, I strive to balance inclusiveness with a clear focus on objectives. By setting clear expectations and timelines, I help my team stay organized and motivated. I believe that leadership involves guiding others with a steady hand, ensuring that we remain focused on our objectives while adapting to any challenges that arise. Another aspect of my leadership style is simplifying complex tasks to make them more manageable for the team. In both academic and extracurricular activities, I have often taken the lead in breaking down complicated projects into smaller, more approachable tasks. This method not only makes the work less daunting but also allows team members to concentrate on specific areas, increasing overall efficiency and productivity. By making the job as simple as possible, I help reduce stress and enhance our ability to achieve our goals effectively. As I pursue my passion for aviation, these leadership qualities become even more essential. The aviation industry demands a high level of teamwork, precision, and clear communication. Whether it’s coordinating with air traffic controllers, working with flight crew, or ensuring passenger safety, effective leadership is vital. My ability to listen, keep people focused, and simplify tasks will be invaluable in creating a safe and efficient flying experience. My goal is to not only become a proficient pilot but also to exemplify the qualities of a great leader within the aviation community. I am committed to fostering a collaborative and efficient environment, ensuring that safety and excellence remain at the forefront of all my endeavors.

Pursuing a career in aviation, especially as a pilot, combines several of my deepest passions: a love for flying, a fascination with technology, and a commitment to safety. The journey to becoming a pilot is not just about learning to fly an aircraft; it’s about embracing a lifestyle centered on precision, responsibility, and continuous learning. My journey into aviation began just a few years ago, but the impact it has had on my life has been profound. Initially, I was drawn to flying through an airline flight while randomly traveling. Since then, my fascination with the mechanics of flight and the beauty of soaring through the skies has only grown stronger. This newfound passion has driven me to immerse myself fully in the world of aviation, fueling my desire to pursue a career as a pilot. Aviation is a field at the forefront of technological advancement. The systems and technologies used in modern aircraft are incredibly sophisticated, ensuring efficiency and safety. My passion for aviation is deeply intertwined with my interest in these cutting-edge technologies. Learning about avionics, navigation systems, and the latest advancements in aviation technology excites me and motivates me to stay current with industry developments. Safety is the cornerstone of aviation, and my passion for this field is strongly driven by a dedication to the rigorous safety standards and protocols that govern it. The responsibility of ensuring the safety of passengers and crew is immense, and I am committed to upholding these standards. I am particularly fascinated by the safety systems in place for pilots, such as the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), and modern cockpit automation. A career in aviation demands lifelong learning and professional development. The dynamic nature of the field, with its constant technological advancements and evolving safety protocols, means that pilots must continuously update their knowledge and skills. This aspect of aviation resonates with me deeply, as I thrive in environments where continuous improvement is encouraged and necessary. Beyond personal aspirations, I am passionate about contributing to the broader aviation community. As a pilot, I will have the opportunity to mentor aspiring aviators, advocate for safety improvements, and participate in initiatives aimed at enhancing the overall safety and efficiency of air travel. This sense of purpose and the potential to make a positive impact in the industry is a significant motivator for me. In summary, my passion for a career in aviation stems from a recent discovery of my love for flying, a fascination with technological innovation, a commitment to rigorous safety standards, a desire for continuous learning, and the opportunity to contribute to the aviation community. This passion drives my dedication to becoming a skilled and responsible pilot, ready to meet the challenges and embrace the rewards of this exciting and dynamic field.

As a Media Relations Coordinator with the Campus Activities Board at Western Michigan University, my journey has been one of personal growth intertwined with the collective betterment of our campus community. In this pivotal role, I've dedicated myself to a multifaceted mission: not only amplifying the voices of our student body but also nurturing an environment where every individual feels valued, heard, and empowered to pursue their aspirations. At the heart of my responsibilities lies the art of communication. Through meticulously crafted messages and strategic outreach efforts, I've served as a conduit for disseminating information about campus events, initiatives, and opportunities. By harnessing the power of various media platforms, from social media channels to traditional press releases, I've ensured that the pulse of our vibrant campus resonates far and wide. This proficiency in communication isn't just about conveying information; it's about fostering connections, sparking engagement, and catalyzing meaningful dialogue within our diverse community. One of the core aspects of my position involves amplifying the voices and initiatives of various student-led organizations and events. Through strategic media outreach and engagement, I strive to elevate the visibility and impact of these endeavors, ensuring that they receive the recognition and support they deserve. By effectively communicating their message to a wider audience, I not only facilitate their success but also inspire others to get involved and contribute to our campus's vibrant tapestry. Furthermore, my tenure as Media Relations Coordinator has afforded me numerous opportunities to collaborate with diverse groups of individuals, each with their own unique perspectives and aspirations. By fostering an environment of collaboration and mutual respect, I have been able to harness the collective talents and energies of my peers, driving forward initiatives that promote personal growth and community enrichment. Beyond my official duties, I am deeply invested in the well-being and development of my fellow students. Whether through mentorship, advocacy, or simply lending a listening ear, I am committed to supporting and uplifting those around me. I firmly believe that by empowering others to recognize and cultivate their strengths, we can collectively strive towards a more equitable and inclusive society. In summary, my experience as Media Relations Coordinator with the Campus Activities Board has not only allowed me to develop invaluable skills but has also ignited within me a passion for helping others thrive. Through effective communication, collaboration, and advocacy, I am dedicated to fostering a culture of empowerment and excellence within our campus community and beyond.

Mental health isn't something that is invisible. It's brain health, looking at the brain shows you what you can do to fix what is mentally "wrong" with you. I have recently learned this, but it makes sense. The more I would think about myself as a vessel needing to take care of my brain, the easier it is to heal your brain. All through high school I didn't have any stable friendships or relationships. I was really good at hiding how it affected me because I learned early how to- in a way- detach from my emotions. Doing this really affected the way I proccesed my emotions and because of this my mental health wasn't good. I would ignore my brain unless I was using it for homework or instant gratification. My personality got burried with my emotions and the few relationships I was in were toxic and borderline abusive. I just thought it was what I would settle for since I would, in my opinon at the time, never find someone better. Once I got out of school and my bad relationship, I finaly broke down in a way that I never had. I let my emotions out slowly, stopped holding so many secrets, and gave up giving into instant gratifications. Having rough school years and knowing what its like to be mentally unhealthy is what helped show me how to heal and take care of my brain like I take care of the rest of my body. It's still an organ that needs studying, but what we are learning now, is truly going to revolutionize mental health.

I would say I am a tenacious person, given some of the things I've persevered. My life has been quite a rollercoaster of ups and downs, maybe not more or less than the average person's, but it has still taught me how to continue being the best I can be. The time I would like to focus on is when I finally decided to enroll in an aviation program. I was already graduated from high school, but completing my associate's degree through an EMC (early-middle college) program. Just before the first semester of my last year started, I took a flight to visit my best friend in Colorado. I, per usual, was awestruck by the midnight sky. That flight stuck with me, but it was not then that I realized it was something I could do. It was when my friend got accepted to a flight program at a school nearby that I finally caught it. I have always loved flying. Why shouldn't that be my career? Nothing else sounded truly fun anyways, so I decided right then I would be a capital-p pilot. I graduated from community college with honors, but I missed the application deadline for the previous year's flight school. That didn't deter me though. I worked, got promoted, and kept working. All summer passed, some of the fall too, and boom, 2023-24 flight school applications were opened. It was go time, I wrote my essay, filled out all the important things, submitted my transcripts, and applied to Western Michigan Universities' aviation program. It was the only school I applied to because it was the only school I wanted to go to. I got told off by plenty of family members because of how selective the school is. They wanted me to apply elsewhere, so I had a "fallback" plan. Little did they know I didn't need one. After months more of working from 9 to 5, I got an email. I was accepted into Western's aviation program to study flight science and be a pilot. It was the boldest move I had made, but it showed how tenacious I was about the school I fell in love with and the school I was determined to go to. From this, I have learned that pursuing your dream is always possible, even if it's a year later than you meant for it to be. My goal is not just to become a pilot, but to become someone my siblings can look up to for a positive influence in life. I want to show them that dreams are possible if you don't give up and put in the work to make them happen.

For the longest time, I thought I should be an engineer. What kind? I didn't know, maybe chemical or mechanical. It was always told to me that going to be an engineer would make me the most money and I wouldn't have to take a bunch of English classes, so I settled for it. As high school graduation came and went, I asked my mom to fly me to Colorado to visit my long-time best friend as a graduation present. Now, I had flown before, but it had been quite a few years. I had forgotten how beautiful the world was from above, night or day. After my wonderful visit on the flight back home, it dawned on me. I still had a year of schooling at my community college, I have time to apply to a flight school! Being in the air for a job sounds fantastic, not like settling for some engineering job. Sure, engineering could pay the bills, but it never called to me the way being in a flying metal bird did. When I got home, one of the first things I told my mom was "I think I want to be a pilot." My mom kind of looked at me funny, but the longer I thought about it, and the more I insisted I wanted to do it, she started supporting me. She helped me find schools I would want to apply to, seeing if there was anywhere I'd want to get my private before actually going to the school I fell in love with. My mom helped lead me through life to this moment. She taught me how to take charge of my education, and how to not let group projects sink my grades. I went to a school where almost every assignment was a group project, and taking from my mother, I quickly figured out how to lead a group to work together and not just do everything on my own and let others take credit. High schoolers suck to work with, but with the right set of qualities- confidence, respect, delegation, and humility- you can be an empowering leader that brings people together to make something great. Because of my mom, I know in any circumstance I can pull myself together to be a leader. In aviation, the person you'd want most in any possible situation is someone who has confidence in themself and others around them, respect for everyone on board as well as the conditions of the sky, humility in the possibility of being in the wrong, and the ability to delegate responsibilities in less than favorable circumstances.

When everyone is "unique," doesn't that make everyone no longer unique? My name is Lilly Jackson and I share that name with more people than I could even fathom. I am a natural brunette with brown eyes. I am of average height for my generation, 5'4', so none of these qualities make me unique, nor does it for anyone that shares them with me. In this day and age, it is hard to be unique with so much social contagion and billions of people. The one thing that makes everyone unique is their soul, no one shares a soul, if that did happen, things would get complicated very fast. My name, my features, and my height may have shaped me differently than they would have others, but they are still their own person as much as I am my own. My soul is what makes me unique. It has been shaped by my physical features, but it has also been shaped by my environment and the words I hear around me. I grew up a military kid, like many others, but I stopped moving around earlier than many others do. I ended up in Michigan, and when we first got here, we thought it was only temporary. The world had other plans, though. I've now lived here for 12 years, 6 of which were in a busy neighborhood, and the latter 6 in the middle of 10 acres in a beautiful house I got to help build. I also grew up going to church, and finding God on my own time and in my own way. these things, while mostly physical, helped make me a unique individual. I got to experience multiple different ways of life before I turned 18. What has truly helped me develop my soul and make me as unique as ever is my relationship with God. He has led me through 100% of my worst days and will continue doing that. He has set a boundary between my soul and everything worldly, and that is the most unique feeling of all. My plans to give back to the community, whether my hometown or my soon-to-be college town, are to be active in the word of God and whichever church he urges me into. With him on my side, I plan to spread the love and word of God and help him save some souls the way people in my youth helped me. I want everyone to realize that there is no worldly thing that can make them truly unique and that the only thing that can do that for them is God. Uniqueness is found in eternal life.

My Grandma was happy this year finding out she could get a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, science terms for the removal of her second breast. She had cancer just about a year previous to me being born, but that's not a fact she ever hid. Going through chemo still has lingering effects on her. She has a tick or two and the older she gets the more prominent it becomes. Seeing her and the outlook she has had on life throughout mine has molded me into who I am. Always hearing that "grandma had cancer" almost dulled the word to me, like it wasn't so serious, after all, she lived so how could it be that bad? The older I got the more I saw the adverse effects chemo had on her. Her memory is nothing that it was, and not as good as it should be with how young she is. Like I mentioned prior she also has a tick where she twitches her neck and sometimes she'll be twitching for minutes and she won't notice. I do believe this is from her chemo with how she was described just over 20 years ago before she went through this. As I have matured and aged and the more classes I've taken like health and biology, I've seen that cancer truly can be devastating and I am lucky to have my grandma around. She has always been here and if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be as connected to my faith, she was the one to bring me to church more frequently than anyone else, bought me all my bible books and movies, and I couldn't be more grateful for that. Cancer could have taken that away from my childhood and potentially could have uprooted my life completely. I also realize that her having cancer affects me, I have a higher chance just by blood than any of my life choices could diminish. That is not something I take lightly, it is worrisome, that no matter what I do I still soon need to go get checked out regularly to be certain I can live as my grandma has. She is a wonderful woman, and now she gets to live life without feeling- quite literally- lopsided as doctors left her years ago. We just recently went shopping because she needed new clothes to fit her new body shape, and she was beyond excited. Cancer has shaped my life in ways I could never understand, but it gave me my grandma as she so wonderfully is, and I would not change that.

There is plenty of social issues these days, I wish in my lifetime I could solve them, but I don't quite see that happening. I feel one of the most important social issues as a Christian Woman for me to talk about is abortion and the overturning of Roe v Wade. When I was younger I heard women on the internet talking about how if they ever needed an abortion, they would want to throw a party with dismembered children as the theme and decor. No matter what side of the aisle you land on, that type of statement is revolting. Since the overturn of Roe V Wade, I have seen videos demonstrating what an abortion (DNC) procedure entails. Right now there is not much around me locally I can do other than to vote according to what I believe in and see whomevers minds around me in my own life I can reach out to and show what the pro-life movement sees when someone fights for "reproductive rights." My best reach so far has been to an aunt of mine after I posted a pro-life post on my Instagram story. She had someone in her life needing to go through an abortion to save her own life. Without prodding too much I simply told her what I knew, that women weren't just using abortion to save their lives, but instead using it as a form of birth control to have sex without consequences, that there are very few cases in which women choose their health over a baby growing in them. I do not know much about whoever it was in my aunt's life that went through the abortion procedure, so I am unsure if it was actually for the health of the mother to end a small child's life, or if the child had already passed (in which case it is no longer an abortion) but I do know that I helped her see why I believe what I do and she agreed with me in the end. I strive for conversation in the moment of heat to continue as friendly as possible so we can see that even people some may deem "evil" or "controlling" really are just fighting for evil in the world to be minimized. If we don't start small with family and grow our reach as we go, we'll never convince anyone to see things how we do. My change in the world may not be great, but it is a start, and there's nothing you can do but get started.

When I was younger, and math had just started getting harder, multiplication and division, I struggled. I didn’t fail anything but I felt like it was wrong for me to not understand math. I continue struggling for years, getting the adequate B or an occasional B plus in math. Then one day it all just clicked. I don’t know what changed, if it was my teacher or some miracle, but I finally started excelling. I was so excited to finally understand enough and not need to be in the hot spot all the time asking questions after question. I continued to do very well in math until I hit college. Boy oh boy was I waiting for a ride awakening. College math moved so fast and the homeworks didn’t make any sense and my smart calculator couldn’t help me. Eventually I realized I had to relearn how to ask questions and be in the hotspot again, no matter how crappy it felt with my nerves making my face go hot, it was worth it. But even with all the effort I put in to trying and asking and committing equations to memory, I was still back in my B range. However that taught me something, and no it isn’t that “C’s get degrees,” although that is a helpful tip. It was no matter how good you think you are at something, someone will know more and be better than you, so keep trying but don’t let it hurt you that your best is not someone else’s best. I’d like to think that I took the time to learn that on my own and in my own free time, but I don’t think I did. See, I took two math classes that year in college, one a semester. It was both classes I struggled in and I had to go through both of them and no longer be “top dog” like I was in high school to realize my best in one area may not be what I am used to, and that’s okay. It took two semesters of math and instructors that taught very differently than what I was used to for me to understand that. I learned plenty more about life in math class than I did in any other class, and for that I am grateful. I will use my life skills from math class to complete higher up math classes and get my flight science degree and fly people around, hopefully starting a small business and catering to the weary travelers or spunky tourists.

The first time I flew in an airplane I wasn’t even close to old enough to remember. I was about three months old. My mom had me in tow as we were flying to our new home with my military father. Though I do not remember the flight, my mom says I didn’t fuss one bit, so perhaps I was meant to be in the air. Any other time I flew back and forth from one parent to another (plenty of years, one sister, and a divorce later) I was always window seat, awake all day or night depending the time, looking out the window. I loved being up so high above mountains and clouds, watching the ground shift and change and seeing ploys of land from such a great distance. That love has never changed even though I’ve not been on a plane much the past few years, but I long to be in the air watching the world go by at slower speeds the higher I climb. That is why I decided I should be a pilot. I started planning on how to make this wish a reality, researching the few colleges around me that would provide a proper education in aviation. After a while I landed on Western Michigan, it’s fairly close to home, as I am a family woman, and it offers the best quality education and career paths for Aviation students. So, I applied, waited and waited, and then one day I got an email while I was helping my siblings with homework. My research and only set in stone plan for college worked. I am going to be a pilot, I get to be in the sky and look at the ever changing world for the rest of my life. This is exactly what I wish for my life to be. I will get to taxi people through the sky, maybe even join the military and fly jets instead of commercial planes. I plan on making myself happy with my career, observing the sky, waters, and land. I also have new opportunities to take my family places that they have never seen or would get to see without the help of me. I know most of my step siblings have never gotten the chance to feel a takeoff or landing let alone anything in between. I hope to be able to let them have that experience when I can pilot a plane.

I enjoy math because it is formulated and there is a certain way to get the correct answer. Though that is technically correct, there is not always just one way to solve a problem, but there is typically an easier way. Just like with any subject, the more you learn, the better you get. I do love math, but I’m not the best at it. I got consistent B’s in my math classes, but I always put in the effort to get that grade and took the time to learn the formulas so I could continue improving my skill. The more I learned the better I got at simpler maths and continued to make my way up through the ranks of math difficulty, even though math was never my strong suit. My calculus teacher once said, “for every one way to solve a problem, someone else out there knows two more.” It’s a good formula for life too. Just because you know one formula, doesn’t mean it’s the only one out there. Math kind of taught be a bit about life in that sense. Math is taught to be simple and complicated at the same time, you only are good at it the more you learn about it, but that’s not always easy.