I have earned my Private Pilot License to operate under VFR conditions. I have accrued around 83 hours of total flying time with about 18 of those being solo flying time. Whether it may be traveling to a field trip by bus, taking a road trip with long car rides, or going on vacation aboard a Boeing 737, my favorite part and fondest memories of traveling have oddly always been the process of getting there. In particular, on my first trip out of the country to Europe, I boarded a total of 7 different connecting flights to a few different countries in Europe. My experience in various airports and inside of the many different aircrafts, once again ignited my love for the airport and traveling environment. I could clearly see the fulfillment and satisfaction within the pilot’s eyes as they confidently walked to and from their flights. I specifically remember boarding a flight and seeing a female as the commanding pilot; I was truly inspired and empowered by this rare sight. With time to think on the return flight, I realized that I wanted exactly that, to be an airline pilot just like that female pilot I had seen, who unintentionally showed me the possibilities of becoming a pilot in a male-dominated career. After I complete my Bachelors of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Central Florida, I hope to build upon my Private Pilot License by earning my Instrument Rating, Multiengine Rating, and Commercial Pilot License. I want to be able to obtain all of the necessary ratings and required hours to eventually work at a major airline and work my way up through the ranks to the captain position. My overarching goal is to be able to fly a large plane full of people and transport them where they need to go, whether that is getting back home to their family or traveling to see the wonders of this beautiful world. As a child I was always fascinated with how things worked and the process of building things. My favorite toys were never dolls as I became extremely fixated on building wooden model airplanes and playing with LEGOS, especially this particular space shuttle and airplane set that I spent hours and hours working on everyday for a week straight. I continued to explore this interest as I grew, so naturally I was drawn to STEM related and hands-on activities, such as robotics and aviation. When I began looking into potential career paths, including aviation, I realized that there were barely any women pilots in the industry, not to mention any who looked like me. I became discouraged at first, but my mother helped me to realize my potential to create change if I put my mind and energy into something by supporting me in my journey to earn my PPL. Becoming a pilot is so important to me because I want to continue to make my mom proud and more importantly serve as a form of representation in the field of aviation to little girls around the world that I was once like.

These pictures are from the very first time I piloted a plane with no one else in the cockpit. As I train to earn my Private Pilot License, my first solo flight is the first significant accomplishment of my aviation career, so it was one of the most nerve wracking and amazing things I've ever done. I was bold to choose this dream career path of becoming an airline pilot, bold to fly a plane by myself with no assistance, and will continue to be bold as I progress through this career and my life.