From that moment when I looked up toward the sky and saw an airplane soar by, I have wanted to be a part of this wonderful world of flight. The way aircraft, along what appears to be an endless stretch of possibilities, seem to rebuff gravity and can carry any person to new horizons never fails to inspire me. What keeps me pushing forward toward the respective goals of becoming a pilot or aerospace engineer is that one, with such careers, could inspire others; and stretch the envelope of human achievement in ways that don't exist today. My inspiration to become a pilot or aerospace engineer is found in a disinclined fascination with the science and engineering that goes into flight, along with the innate desire to personally contribute to the future of transportation and exploration. It is something that does not fail to fascinate me: how huge machines like this can fly through the air with the intricate balancing of aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. It's the potentiality of being at the very frontline of innovations in aircraft design—developing more fuel-efficient engines, exploring new materials for lighter and stronger airframes, or even working on spacecraft for future missions to Mars and beyond—which really drives me. Being a pilot would mean guiding passengers across the skies safely and sharing my passion for flying concurrently. God forbid anything goes wrong when somebody as enthusiastic about flying as myself is flying the aircraft. Something magical lies in being responsible for guiding the aircraft through the air, and I believe that magic has the potential to inspire others to view the world from an all-new point of view. Pilots join people and cultures around the world, and I get excited at the hope of joining that global community. I said that if I became an aerospace engineer, I would be driven to inspire another group of aviators and engineers with brilliant designs and technologies. The area that excites the most about aerospace engineering is that dealing with sustainable solutions in aviation—development of electric aircraft and alternative fuels. With the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects, I reckon I will have helped prove that through innovation and determination, global challenges like climate change can be resolved. In both professional fields I find enormous potential to inspire others by personifying the spirit of exploration and progress that defined flying from its very beginning. I should show in my actions, whether in the cockpit or at the design lab, that with hard work, creativity, and passion, we can still push the boundaries of what is possible on the air and on anything. That makes me think of one more quote, from Leonardo da Vinci: "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." This lets in the feeling of transformation through flight and is witnessing the ever-present muse. Entering into the field of aviation will not only further my own dreams, but it will also light a fire in others to look up, dream big, and reach for the stars.