Since the day I knew which way was up, nothing has fascinated me more than things that go. From watching planes at our local airport, to riding my little red Lightning McQueen bike all around our local park, to joy riding Amtrak around the Bay Area with my grandparents, there’s no vehicle that hasn’t fascinated me. As I’ve grown up, this fact has not only stayed true, but it’s developed and become more technical as my opportunities have expanded. From getting to rebuild my cars engine in my high school’s auto shop, to currently taking flight lessons and becoming involved in local general aviation, it’s become clear that I want to spend my life around and working on things that go. This is ultimately what led me to the idea of Mechanical engineering and becoming an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic (A&P). Combining my two loves, mechanics and aviation, would be a dream come true, and I’ve thought of no better way to do that than this. Above all else, aviation has always fascinated me. The idea that someone can so easily leave the earth and be bound only by the limitations of the plane that they’re flying, or the fact that you can go anywhere and see anything from a whole new perspective has kept me intrigued for the past 17 years, and I have no doubt it will keep fascinating me until the day I die. Even just over the past few years, it’s become clear that aviation of all kinds is heading in a new, cleaner, faster, more advanced direction, and I hope that I can become a part of that movement into the future. Outside of aviation, I love spending time in the mountains around Seattle skiing, backpacking, and hopefully one day mountaineering. About two years ago, my friends and I discovered Camp Waskowitz, an outdoor school nestled in the Cascades that provides a week of outdoor education to all fifth and sixth graders in the Highline School District. While I never experienced this program as a student, I became a volunteer counselor at the camp, and for the past two and a half years I have led a whole cabin of 10–11-year-olds, twice a school year. During my time at the camp, my responsibilities range from making sure that a whole cabin of fifth grade boys don’t kill each other, to helping teach and encourage curiosity and learning during our daily activities. Not only has this taught me incredible leadership skills, but it’s also taught me the invaluable skill of conflict resolution. Besides being a volunteer counselor, I also have many hours of community service through the National Honors society at my school, doing everything from greenbelt restoration to helping set up for various charity runs around Seattle.

“Santa Monica Tower, Archer Six Six Lima Golf is 7 to the northeast with Romeo, full stop.” “Archer Six Six Lima Golf, fly your current heading and expect a straight in, runway 21” “Copy, lima golf.” And so began the frantic search in the sky! I didn’t know even remotely what they were saying, but I did know that when the radio came to life over the observation deck loudspeakers, it meant I was about see a brand-new plane, and what could be better than that? For a kid who loved planes more than anything, Santa Monica was a fantastic place to grow up. The airport itself and the three parks that surrounded it could keep me entertained for hours, but when a small air museum opened just across the street from the airport, I thought that nothing could ever top it. Then I moved to Seattle. Not only is Seattle the birthplace of Boeing, it also has one of the biggest and best Air and Space museums in the world, which I took full advantage of. From multiple summer camps, to getting to fly one of Alaska Airlines full motion 737 simulators, I loved, and still love, every second I spend at the museum. Another great thing that came out of my family’s move was my discovery of the Young Eagles program. In early 2019, on a beautiful, clear winter morning, my dad and I made the quick ferry trip over to Bremerton National Airport for my very first ride in a GA plane. Since that first flight in the little yellow Cub, flying has been constantly on my mind, and I’ve been doing everything I can to stay involved with EAA and the rest of the GA scene all around the PNW. At this point, I’ve completed ground school and passed my written, had several real lessons, and my next big goal is to solo. After getting my PPL, I know for sure I want to get my Instrument rating, and then my commercial. As for after that, I don’t think the airlines are for me, but I know that nothing would be better than commercial general aviation. Whether that’s flying freight in Alaska, or sea planes in Seattle, I have yet to decide, but I know that no matter what I do, a large part of my life will be spent in the air. Outside of aviation, I love spending time in the mountains around Seattle skiing, backpacking, and hopefully one day mountaineering. About two years ago, my friends and I discovered Camp Waskowitz, an outdoor school nestled in the Cascades that provides a week of outdoor education to all fifth and sixth graders in the Highline School District. While I never experienced this program as a student, I became a volunteer counselor at the camp, and for the past two and a half years I have led a whole cabin of 10–11-year-olds, twice a school year. During my time at the camp, my responsibilities range from making sure that a whole cabin of fifth grade boys don’t kill eachother, to helping teach and encourage curiosity and learning during our daily activities. Not only has this taught me incredible leadership skills, but it’s also taught me the invaluable skill of conflict resolution. Throughout all the training, counseling, and volunteering I’ve done, it’s become clear just how important it is for younger kids to have people to look up to and encourage them to be curious, work hard and aim high. I've been lucky enough to have that so far, and I’m still aiming for the sky.