Aviation was never a given in my life. It was an idea introduced to me as a junior in high school, something that had never felt like a plausible path before. Growing up, it simply was not a career that was visible, let alone represented by women. So, when I began flight training at 16, I kept my focus simple: finish high school and earn my pilot certificate. I was not thinking about the long term picture, what kind of pilot I wanted to be, or what my life might look like.

My return to aviation over the past few months has been exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. My range of emotions at any given minute has run the gamut from Christmas morning-like excitement to “maybe I should just go work at Starbucks” fear! I may be exaggerating… a little.