
In the summer after my junior year of high school, I participated in a week-long introduction to aviation camp in Tampa, Florida, hosted by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP). This experience exposed me to various aviation careers I hadn’t previously considered, such as aircraft maintenance roles and air traffic control. The highlight of the camp was the opportunity to fly a small aircraft for nearly 20 minutes with a flight instructor at a local airfield. In the spring of 2024, I was honored to receive a $1,000 scholarship toward my college education from the Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures Scholarship fund. This award was granted after I submitted a short essay outlining my personal plans for the future.