Ever since I was a child, I longed to touch the skies. However, because no one in my family was in the aviation industry and I had no other connections, my dream felt far off and unattainable. To content myself, I searched for books, documentaries, and created school projects about influential aviators such as Amelia Earhart. Suddenly, my impossible dream became a reality when I started taking classes at Southwestern Illinois College in high school and discovered their aviation program. Shortly after, I started my flight training at the age of seventeen at Ideal Aviation at KCPS.
Upon receiving my CFI certificate in airplanes, I finished my Associates in Aviation Pilot Training after receiving my B.S. in Aviation Management. Now, I am finishing my CFI-I and will work on my multi-engine and MEI this summer. My professional goal is to share my passion with aspiring pilots as a chief flight instructor, as well as serve and promote growth in my community as a General Aviation pilot. To help mentor and encourage other ladies in aviation, I joined Women with Wings as an ambassador.
What got you interested in aviation?
As a young girl, I was a relentless daredevil and the idea of soaring through the sky was tantalizing, even though I had never been near a plane before. Because I didn’t know any pilots, much less any female ones, I didn’t think such a feat was possible. In middle school, I did an in-depth biographical report on the life of Amelia Earhart. Her story was so inspiring to me and fueled my aviation bug.
What was your first flight like?
My first flight was on a cold December day in 2015. At this point, I had never stepped foot in a plane, not even a commercial flight. With a legendary Vietnam veteran pilot in the right seat, and my parents in the back, we took off. I’m sure the CFI thought that I was crazy because I could not stop smiling. Once I saw the view from 2,000 feet, I was hooked. I told myself, “I can’t do anything else with my life. Nothing else can ever compare to this.” Six years later, I still can’t help but agree with my 16-year-old self.
What’s your typical day like?
Currently, I work full-time as the office manager of my flight school. This position allows me to immerse myself in the aviation industry and absorb knowledge and experiences that will stay with me throughout my career. In December 2020, I received my CFI certificate. Since that time, I have been teaching as many students as possible to become safe, responsible, and passionate pilots. I am beginning to transition from full-time office manager to full-time CFI.
A typical day for me starts at the office at 7:30 am. I work on my administrative duties throughout the day as I wait for my students to come in for their lessons or until it is time for a lesson of my own. Right now, I usually only have one or two students per day but I am hoping to increase that soon. After I am finished, I go home and work on my lesson plans and get ready to do it all over again the next day!
What do you like about flying?
Flying is like a diamond, there are so many facets that make it so incredible. There’s the sense of freedom that you can only get from seeing the world from above, the breathtaking views, the sense of accomplishment after passing a checkride, and the community of aviators and enthusiasts opening their arms to anyone and everyone.
What’s the most challenging part of flying?
As a young, broke, high school and college student, I had to work my tail off in order to afford my flight lessons. For a good portion of my training, I was working three jobs while going to school full-time to make enough to fly once or twice a week. I would leave home at 4 am and would finish around 10 pm. As tiring as it was, it was all worth it because I was able to fly. I also have been blessed with several generous scholarships that have covered the majority of my training. Without them, I know I wouldn’t be as far along in my training as I am now.
Did you encounter any roadblocks on your path to your licenses?
As my fellow female aviators are aware, the aviation industry is extremely male-dominated. During my time at school, I faced much unwarranted criticism from my professors and classmates alike, just because I was one of the few women in the program. I was told the only reason I will ever get a job as a pilot is due to the requirements to hire a certain number of women, that I am inherently a worse pilot because I am a woman, and had my integrity questioned by others who did not see how hard I worked. It became very hard to hear and deal with but I made the decision to push through so that maybe, just maybe, the next generation of female pilots can have it a little easier.
Today, I work for a company that respects me and values me based on my merit without regard for my gender. I also found a family in the community of women throughout aviation that have supported me and pushed me to keep going. Today, I am trying to pay back their kindness by making myself an ally and mentor to any pilots who want it. The old saying is true, “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:2) When we stick together, we make a safer, stronger, and more supportive environment for all of the women in aviation.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue aviation?
My main advice to newcomers to aviation is to try to spend as much time at the airport as possible, whether it be plane spotting, washing aircraft, or cutting grass. Immersing yourself in the airport environment will not only help build networking connections, but also vastly increase your knowledge of the industry. You can also do this by joining different groups such as AOPA, Civil Air Patrol, The Black Pilots of America, or Women with Wings.
My second piece of advice is to apply for as many scholarships as possible! There are so many out there that don’t always get applications. Personally, I owe so much of my success in training to the generous scholarships that I have received. Groups like Blonds in Aviation have a great scholarship calendar that I highly recommend!
