Gaining My Wings

I have been surrounded by aviation my entire life. Growing up with my dad owning a small aircraft, some of my earliest and most fond memories are those of flying. I have never forgotten the promise my dad once made to me that the day my legs were long enough to touch the pedals, he would teach me to fly. This opportunity never came to pass for obvious reasons, as owning an airplane is an extremely expensive hobby. Financial priorities shifted and my dad eventually sold his Cessna 210 Centurion before I ever got the chance to learn to fly. In the years after he sold his airplane, the thought of flying never left my mind. This thought eventually turned into a passion for aviation. Pictured above is a Piper Archer, the first plane I flew. In addition to my dad's influence on my passion for aviation, my uncle was a pilot and currently works for the Federal Aviation Administration. When it came time to make a decision on what college I would be attending, the University of Minnesota's aerospace engineering program looked very enticing. Once I was accepted into the college, it was no-brainer, I was going to live out my passion for aviation.

A second person who has shaped the way I live my life today is my grandpa. Though this may seem like a sudden change of subject, it actually relates directly to my passion for aviation that I inherited from my dad. My grandpa, a second lieutenant in the army, fought in World War II. I have been raised to take pride in the United States and support our military no matter what my opinions of the war are. Combining my patriotism and passion for aviation, I have explored the option of joining the Air Force in order to live out two things of great importance to me. To sum up, my dad and my grandpa have deeply influenced and shaped my interests. If it weren't for them, I would not be where I am today.