Greetings! My name is Sarah Goldberg. My introduction to the aviation field is quite unique in that I did not grow up around airplanes. In high school, I had a 3.8 GPA and was searching for a new field that I could take pride in. I became interested in aviation and joined a program during my junior year of high school. I knew that I wanted to pursue the aviation field further in college. To my surprise, Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, was developing a brand new aviation program. I applied and became the first female to join the new SFA flight school. Not enough women consider flying as a career because the field has been male-dominated for decades. In 2020, less than 5% of airline pilots identified as female, according to the Federal Aviation Association's Breaking Barriers for Women in Aviation: Flight Plan for the Future report. Despite this alarming statistic, this did not stop my ambition to reach for the sky and learn to fly! I was one of three women in the inaugural aviation class. On the first day of class, I entered the room with a giant grin on my face. I knew I had to prove to the other seventeen men in the room that I belonged in that class. I didn’t even know how to drive yet! I studied anytime I was not in class. Before too long, I grew strong friendships with the other students. I always sat in the front row and participated in classroom discussions. I learned that half the battle is being attentive and showing up eager to learn more. As a college freshman, I became the first aviation ambassador who gave tours of the campus simulator rooms, instructional classrooms, and hangar space at the airport. Despite my multiple adversaries, I persevered and I was awarded the Top Aviator Award by HCH Aviation over the last two years. This award is given to the top "Flying Jack '' that exhibits positive community presence, peer leadership, excellent flight skills, Flying Jack pride, professionalism, Espirit de Corps, high aviation academic performance, and the highest overall college GPA. I am currently on the Dean’s List with a 3.8 GPA. This year I created eight new committees to increase student involvement. The committees are airplane crew chief, Aviators Ball, Big Jack and Little Jack, learning maintenance, safety, social events, social media, and merchandise. A committee that I would like to add special emphasis on is Big Jack and Little Jack. The objective of starting “Big Jack and Little Jack” is to cultivate the Flying Jack spirit within the upperclassmen and underclassmen. Additionally, I give back to students by providing rides to the airport. I was once in that position and if I can provide one student peace of mind then I have done a good job. I love that I have been able to see this program grow from the very beginning. I have learned a lot about business operations and about my colleagues, while working as the flight school scheduler. I currently have my Private Pilot license and have my Instrument Rating checkride in early September. Additionally, I am about two-thirds finished with my Commercial license. In the fall semester, I will start Multi-Engine training in a P2006 Tecnam Twin. By spring semester, I should be training to be a Certified Flight Instructor. If I were awarded this scholarship, I would use the funds to put towards my training costs for my upcoming junior year. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Greetings! My name is Sarah Goldberg. Before applying for Craig’s scholarship, I read his obituary in the Anchorage Daily Newspaper. He had such a fulfilling aviation career. I hope in a few years to also work for Alaskan Airlines to continue his legacy. My introduction to the aviation field is quite unique in that I did not grow up around airplanes. In high school, I had a 3.8 GPA and began searching for a new interest. I became interested in aviation during my junior year of high school. It was a typical Friday afternoon when a table advertisement caught my attention. I was intrigued about being able to learn about aviation. After careful consideration, I decided I wanted to join the program. Although this program did not last very long due to COVID-19, I knew that I wanted to pursue the aviation field further in college. To my surprise, Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, was developing a brand new aviation program. I applied and became the first female to join the new SFA flight school. As a college freshman, I became the first aviation ambassador that gave tours to incoming students and their families. This includes showing our campus simulator rooms, instructional classrooms, and hangar space at the airport. SFA’s student base for the upcoming fall has grown to over eighty students, which is a huge increase from the original twenty students! I love that I have been able to see this program grow from the very beginning. As the program enters its third year this fall, I am excited to see the new students connect with the upperclassmen. This year I created eight new committees to increase student involvement. The committees are airplane crew chief, Aviators Ball, Big Jack and Little Jack, learning maintenance, safety, social events, social media, and merchandise. The first committee that I would like to add special emphasis is the Aviators Ball committee. This committee helps plan, set up, and take down the event in Nacogdoches’ largest banquet hall. The event was created as a night of celebration and support for the “Flying Jack'' program. Over the past two years, I was awarded the Top Aviator Award by HCH Aviation. This award is given to the top "Flying Jack '' that exhibits positive community presence, peer leadership, excellent flight skills, Flying Jacks pride, professionalism, Espirit de Corps, high aviation academic performance, and the highest overall college GPA. I am currently on the Dean’s List with a 3.8 GPA. Another committee that I would like to add special emphasis on is Big Jack and Little Jack. The objective of starting “Big Jack and Little Jack” is to cultivate the Flying Jack spirit within the upperclassmen and underclassmen. Student pilots have many milestones that need to be celebrated. This program is designed to make new Flying Jacks feel more comfortable and informed. Big Jacks will be able to mentor their Little Jacks by giving them support. I am at the halfway point with my Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Sciences. I have been working as the flight school scheduler to help increase resource allocation. I currently have my Private Pilot license and have my Instrument Rating checkride in early September. Additionally, I am about two-thirds finished with my Commercial license. In fall semester, I will start Multi-Engine training in a P2006 Tecnam Twin. By spring semester, I should be training to be a Certified Flight Instructor. If I were awarded this scholarship, I would use the funds to put toward my training costs for my upcoming junior year. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Society continues to normalize prolonged radio silence amongst families due to conflict. I am a victim of this normalization that caused me to miss out on communicating with my aunt for over a decade. Right before my senior year started, I developed a cyst in my thyroid gland that needed immediate surgery. After receiving surgery, I called up my distant aunt, a nurse at Texoma Medical Center, in a panic because I feared that I could not properly take care of myself. Despite our lack of communication for over a decade, she came right over to clean my medical drain and fix the out of place stitches. We slowly began to get close with one another every time she came over to check on me. Then one night, my parents left us alone to chat with each other. The first thing she said to me was “Don’t worry, I know it’s not your fault. When you turn 18 in a couple of months, we can make up for all the lost time.” After a few weeks, our families developed enough trust for me to go over to her house. On the car ride over to her house, she told me about how hard it was to be cut off from all of the family because of her past dating choices. She felt like she may never reconnect with the family which caused her to struggle with her mental health. That day alone will forever be etched in my memories because little did I know that was her silent cry to help. A couple days later, she was reported missing and found shot with several dozen bullet wounds in her home. After an investigation is conducted, we find out that she was in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend. I was the only person that could have known what was happening because of what she told me on the car ride. I will use this experience as a life lesson to always check in with your loved ones because you never know how someone is truly feeling on the inside.

The global pandemic continues to spotlight the importance of STEM occupations coming together to search for an adequate vaccine. People all over the world are seemingly forced to adapt to a new reality with the deadly virus altering their everyday lifestyles. Although, COVID has created awareness of how flexible and resilient the field remains through an economic crisis. A major concern was how everyone would integrate and adapt various technological systems to fulfill basic human needs. Nevertheless, occupations ranging from engineers to computer analysts have devoted their time and energy to bettering the world. History has shown that pandemics are destined to occur every hundred years. Granted that bioterrorism is gaining traction, it’s very likely that we will experience another pandemic with the next decade. In the process, more of the younger generation will likely fields like healthcare, computer support, and web development. Today’s world has shown us the value of science and how to further dissect the truth from fiction. STEM will always play an essential role in our ever-changing economy. As citizens, it is our responsibility to prepare for our future endeavors. Hopefully, the trend of primary men in the STEM field will change in the future. These secluded times have shown the world that not every job needs to be in person. More jobs will likely be remote work from home in the foreseeable future. The core values the STEM field will continue to thrive on are communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking. Critical thinking goes further than analyzing facts to form a judgment, though. All STEM professions must possess a growth mindset to be able to move with the times and adapt quickly. There’s no better time than the present to enter the STEM field!

Over spring break, I visited Palo Duro Canyon State Park with some family friends. I have an extreme fear of heights, especially standing 3,500 feet above sea level. Coincidentally, heights never bothered me when I was growing up. Perhaps this is due to how naive little kids are to the world around them. In fact, studies have shown a fear of heights often starts or worsens later in life. All it takes is a simple slip from the rocks to become severely injured. Hiking up the United States' second largest canyon takes an immense amount of courage and bravery.

The burning sensation of passion drives you to take action in achieving your dreams. At the beginning of my junior year of high school, a new program called Eagles Aviation opened for students to begin their private pilot's license journey. In this program, I learned the barebone essentials of the mechanics of an airplane. Unfortunately, this program is now discontinued altogether due to COVID-19. Although this program was short-lived, I developed a strong interest in the aviation world. I would love for my future to include me becoming a commercial airline pilot for the Dallas/Ft Worth International Airport. I feel my excellent leadership and communication skills will help me to succeed in such a revolutionizing field, despite this career field dealing with intense working environments. Stephen F. Austin State University recently made history by introducing their first class that allows you to earn a college degree and an aircraft pilot certification from the same program! My absolute dream to continue my education and learn to fly. I plan to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Sciences and a minor in mathematics. I still possess all of my reading materials on the fundamentals of aircraft from my previous program. Even without direct instruction happening, I continue to build my knowledge on the field of aviation. Recently, I have been visiting the Mckinney airport (TKI) to check out all the planes arriving and departing. Typically, the airport has a medium load of air traffic on its busiest days. I keep track of the planes in the sky with an app on my phone that scans the air for nearby incoming and departing planes. After determining which types of airplanes are coming through the airport, I record the makes and models to revisit them later for further research. Then, I take a more in-depth look at the bare bones of each type of aircraft. As a result, this attention to detail skill will serve me well in the future workplace. Aviation has become an absolute necessity for a technological civilization. The world of aviation provides such a vast opportunity for employment with bigger chances of growth. The aviation job market demand continues to increase exponentially every year. This career requires years of flying experience before I can take control of the cockpit. Sadly enough, not enough women are taking the initiative to become a pilot due to “being told it’s a man job” and not having definite “role models” to follow in the field. First, I will need to get a 2nd Class Medical Certificate and pass the FAA written exam. Then, I’ll need to obtain a commercial pilot certificate. Furthermore, I will have to acquire at least 250 flight hours, including 50 hours of cross-country flying and 100 hours of pilot-in-command time. Lastly, I’ll need 10 hours in a complex aircraft and at least 10 hours of instrument training. My goal is to finish these requirements in about two years through a smaller airport, such as the Addison airport. I'll continue to further immerse myself in the field of aviation by attending local events, too. This way, I can “earn my stripes” and work my way up the leadership system. Airline companies, such as American Airlines, are now beginning to get their feet underneath them amidst the current pandemic. Nearly a decade ago, entering the pilot industry proved to be a daunting prospect, especially for young women. Dallas, Texas provides a wealth of financial aid to those who experience a hurtle of financial instability. Other financial options include working as a flight instructor to accrue enough hours to pay for flight school. Regardless, settling down in Dallas, Texas will allow me to reach my true aspirations of flying. There is no better time than the present for young women searching for a career in the aviation industry. Dallas is home to several aviation chapter groups that meet on a monthly basis. I would love to be a part of this wonderful aviation community and learn more about their journeys. This will further allow me to broaden my connections. More often than not, applicants are more likely to land jobs based on who they know rather than what they know. Social media services such as LinkedIn make networking easier than ever to broadcast my portfolio to future employers. Once I’m able to get in the door with a local airliner, I will be able to flourish in the industry. I have the power to bring change by working to become a leader of my generation in the aviation field.

The amount of adrenaline that rushes through my veins as I arrive at the 8x8 chessboard continues to stand unmatched. The victories are always great for my ego but the realization that there are thousands of people with far superior skills sets knocks me down a peg. Throughout the last five years of my chess experience, I owe my success to the dozens of individuals who took the time in explaining how I could improve my gameplay. Overall, I’ve built the ability to plan, create a transforming board vision, and excel in the tenacity of my mind. Chess teaches players how to apply critical problem-solving skills and utilize creative thinking. Oftentimes throughout growing up as an only child, I found myself putting faith in the outside world to do its part in my entertainment. Every weekend, I would go to the library to search for new books. At a young age, I knew about the game of chess but I hadn’t had much experience. I viewed all the people who sat there for hours playing as seemingly mysterious, given the fact that I had no idea how powerful chess is for the mind. Years passed while the chess table continued to echo my name outside the teen section of the library. One day, I noticed there was a girl my age sitting at the table alone. I knew this was my opportunity to finally play with someone. This girl was one of the sweetest girls I had met at the time. She showed me how to play and kept a professional manner each time she won. Eventually, the time came for me to leave the library and I thanked her for all the insight she provided. Little did I know, this was the start of my chess career. By the time I reached high school, I was able to go to the library on my own more often. Moreso than before, the chess table by the teen book section was easily filled with the most genuine group of people. I knew there was always someone new to play with every weekend. Most of my opponents were teenagers, yet some of them were highly experienced adults. I considered this group of people to be my unique friends because we were all united with the language of chess. At the end of each game, we would run through what each player could have done differently to have a better end result. The greatest lesson this group of friends engraved in me was how to take advantage of a situation. A common cultural myth of chess is that all chess players are incredibly smart. When you are passionate about practicing an activity, instant communities will form around you. You start to become something much bigger than yourself. As my childhood comes to an end, I reflect back on all of my experiences at that chess table in the library. I will forever cherish all the laughs and love shared amongst the community of chess players. I am not afraid to take calculated risks and put myself out there. My talent is a spark that lights the fire, yet the fire needs constant fuel to get larger. This so-called fuel is best known as my perseverance to continue learning, despite the wide range of knowledge available. Recently, the college I will be attending in the fall introduced a new aviation program. I have studied for my private pilot’s license for the last year and a half. After spending countless hours referring to textbooks, I am beginning to feel like everything is starting to come together. My ultimate goal is to become a commercial airline pilot for American Airlines. Currently, less than 5% of pilots at American Airlines are women, thus proving this to be a highly unrepresented industry for women. When you are up in the sky, there are countless amount of components that need to be constantly monitored and adjusted to ensure a safe flight. During the learning process, mistakes will be made but chess has taught me to perform a self-analysis of all of my actions. With this mindset, I will continue to improve and reach for the sky!

The public education system is heavily designed to force you into working a 9-5 job until retirement. Without adequate personal financial literacy instruction in the classroom, books are the only option to gain knowledge on financial freedom. Public schools should introduce a nationwide program that requires students to read the books like “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” by Robert Kiyosaki. This will ensure that students are aware of the ways to maintain a healthy financial lifestyle. Everyone has the potential to save a percentage of their paycheck, but only the financially intelligent will reinvest their savings. People’s lives are controlled by two emotions: fear and greed. A majority of one’s education comes from the school education system. Over the years, the public education system has downplayed the necessity of learning finances past a savings and checking account. Consequently, society has taken a major pitfall through not educating the youth on the subject of money. Furthermore, this proves to be a sole example of the outdated education system. The less fortunate kids are at a severe disadvantage because their parents likely do not understand how money works. Most of the time, only the middle and upper class discuss with their children, thus creating a larger gap between each class annually. According to the Council for Economic Education in 2019, “17 states require that students take a personal-finance course to graduate high school, and only five require that the course be a full-semester standalone.” This country needs some serious reform to increase the number of states that require a personal-finance course. I would love to contribute to the personal-finance curriculum taught in public schools. Robert Kiyosaki, the best-known author of the number one personal finance book of all time, continues to inspire millions of people to change the way they view their money. Kiyosaki’s story resonates with millions of Americans in that he experienced two varying types of parental figures in his life, a rich dad and a poor dad. Throughout this incredible book, there are seven essential principles that dictate how to become financially successful. The seven principles are: the rich don’t work for money, financial literacy, minding your own business, the power of corporations, the wealthy seize the opportunity to invest money, work to learn -- don’t work for money, and overcome obstacles. Throughout teaching each of these principals holistically in detail, students will develop a keen understanding of key points to success, such as understanding the difference between a liability and an asset, building and maintaining a strong group of assets, and training your financial IQ. The process of training your financial IQ is one of the most critical applications to becoming a successful adult. A financial IQ is comprised of knowledge across several broad topics, relating to the synergy of all your skills and talents. These broad topics include accounting, investing, and understanding markets, and the law. The accounting sector ensures that you’re able to read and understand numbers on financial statements. Furthermore, the investing sector allows you to use your money to make more money. Next, understanding the markets allows for the concept of supply and demand to alter one’s perspective. Lastly, comprehending the tax laws allows you to keep more of your own money. An everyday example compares two different family philosophies. They earn the same amount of money and have the same amount of money available. One of the providers spends every day working for their money. They feel like they can’t ever get ahead. The other provider spends their time researching assets to add to their collection. The first provider exchanges their time for money, while the second provider acquired their money mostly from assets. Overall, the rich acquire assets that make an adequate amount of revenue. With that being said, a common misconception in the marketplace is the difference between good debt and bad debt. For instance, taking out loans to attend university is considered good debt because you are allowing yourself to get hired at a well-paying job through earning a degree. On the contrary, unpaid credit cards are considered to be bad debt, due to the fact that this lowers your credit score and ability to purchase any large possessions. The core reasons why the wealthy are so successful financially is due to a combination of factors, such as index/mutual funds, bonds, real estate, and Roth IRA’s. Wealthy individuals find a way to acquire at least five different sources of income. The stock market plays a huge component in their success rate, too. These critical methods are the types of lessons we should be teaching the youth, instead of outdated materials. Moreover, the process of setting up and contributing to a retirement account is not taught, hence why “63% of Americans don't think their savings are on track or aren't sure,” according to the Federal Reserve's “Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2019.” Likewise, at least 20% of your net income should be saved and/or reinvested in strong assets. There has never been a more ever-growing need to understand how to balance a checkbook, comprehend your personal income taxes, and budget your months into essential items. Our society tries to engrave in your mind that everyone needs to own cable TV, spend an excessive amount of money on designer clothing, and dine out, etc. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I want to create a society where Americans realize that we are not completely stuck in this alternative reality where finance classes are non-existent. We have the power as a nation to bring change on a large scale. Only the risk-takers will make the most financial progress in today’s society. Understanding the value of time in relation to money is a crucial step into succeeding in the finance world. The concept of compound interest is far too valuable to miss teaching in schools. The time has never been more prevalent to prove the American people’s resiliency in personal finance to the rest of the world.