I am currently pursuing my Private Pilots certificate and am soon going to college to achieve the professional pilot title. I wanted to get my Privates license before school so I could start with a good base knowledge of aviation. I have recorded approximately 53.2 hours in single engine training planes including a Cessna 172 and a piper warrior. I decided to pursue a career in aviation because it has intrigued me since I was young. My family traveled often when I was young so I was always comfortable being on aircraft. However, it wasn't until my discovery flight that it was truly decided it was the career for me. Being able to take control and operate an aircraft with grace and confidence is truly my favorite feeling. I plan to further my career in aviation through attending Kansas State Polytechnic University majoring in Professional Aviation. I hope to graduate by 2025 and join a commercial company. I have considered becoming an Air Force pilot after school but am undecided as the airlines become more in need of pilots. Whatever career path I do take, I hope to inspire others interested in aviation to pursue their dreams and encourage them to continue to innovate in the world of flight. Aviation is important to me because of how challenging and rewarding it is. You are constantly learning in aviation, whether it be on the ground or in the air, your knowledge is constantly growing and their is always room for improvement. While many people may see that as a negative I believe it is good to be pushing yourself to become better at your trade. While in the air, it is imperative for the pilot in command to multi task and be able to focus their attention while prioritizing specific things all at once. Learning how to execute this has proven to be difficult but also incredibly satisfying when you finally get the skill down and are able to practice it with ease. It is important to me that the challenges and rewards of learning persists through out my career and aviation offers that in a very attractive way that pulls me into aviation.

The 2003 drama, Big Fish, directed by Tim Burton is a truly touching and heartfelt work of art. The film starts by featuring Will Bloom, played by American actor Billy Crudup, trying to reconnect with his father Edward Bloom, played by Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney, before he passes away. Early in the plot it is made apparent that Edward is a natural born storyteller however his son doesn't find this as a positive attribute like so many others would. Will feels that his fathers stories were a way for Edward to cover up his actual life which consumes Will with frustration as he just wants the truth. The film consists largely of flashbacks into Edward Bloom's life allowing the audience to see his experiences as intricately and colorfully as he did. We learn later on that all of these outrageous stories that Edward tells are actually true, just different. Big Fish is an all time favorite of mine because every time I watch it, it teaches me a different lesson. Primarily, the film reminds the audience that life will take a person every which way and throw foreign and unexpected experiences at an individual no matter what. It is up to that individual however, to make those experiences as happy and colorful or as bland and ordinary as they see fit. It also reminds the audience to live their lives to the fullest potential. Edward Bloom's life was so full of adventures and loved ones to tell those adventures to that his stories went on after he passes to be remembered by his friends and family. Through the years I have analyzed that people really just want to be remembered after they are gone, everyone wants to make a difference and Big Fish shows us how to do that.

A quote that has always helped me stay confident, focused, as well motivated is "There is nobody better," by an unknown author. I was introduced to this quote at age 12 while I was the either the winning or losing at-bat in a softball game. My coach shouted these words from across the field and it resonated with me for the rest of my life. While at first impression it may sound like an egocentric saying, to me it is much more. Everyone at some point in there life has struggled with confidence whether it be on giving a speech or simply wearing something new, confidence has to be learned and practiced before it is natural and this quote exudes just that. Every moment that I have felt overwhelmed, overlooked, or nervous I just think these words to myself. It reminds me that in this particular moment the best version of yourself is presenting themselves and executing this task there is no one else that is going to do the job like you and for that, there is nobody better. This way of thinking also motivates me to stay the best version of myself and keep improving as it would prove to be untrue if an individual would decide to stop being their best self. I strongly believe that people should be constantly asking themselves what they can do to become the best version of themselves. If you think about "There is nobody better" in the sense that it isn't talking about the other individuals but just the many different versions of yourself, it puts it in perspective that you should stay your best self by continuously improving because then there will literally be nobody better for the task. Throughout my life this quote has reminded me that there is nobody better in this particular moment to be doing what you are doing. In other words it makes me believe that an individual was chosen and meant to be in a particular situation for a reason and it is there time to show others around them why.

Have you ever flown a plane without a certified pilot sitting next to you? My answer to that was no until a few weeks ago when I took my first solo flight. I have been training for months to attain my private pilots license and this was a crucial moment in the process. I successfully took off and landed the plane 3 consecutive times without any assistance. It is my proudest accomplishment and happiest moment of my life and I cannot wait to pursue my career in Aviation inspired further by this milestone.