Personal Narrative: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

1096 Words3 Pages

Entering a male dominated field churns my stomach. With roughly 5% of female pilots in the aviation department, it is a terrifying thought as a woman. I am left wondering what challenges I will face on the path to pursue a career in aviation. I fear the sexism, the wage gap, the snarky comments, saying women can’t become pilots. Although it is intimidating, I know that Embry—Riddle Aeronautical University is the best school for me to obtain my dream as an airline pilot. I will pursue my dream and not be stopped by the challenges that will come my way, because I am a woman, and I am unstoppable. It first began, my love for aviation, when I took a solo trip to Missouri to visit my cousins when I was about eleven years old. Although I enjoyed …show more content…

I flew with American Airlines. As I boarded the 737 Boeing aircraft, I took a quick peek inside the cockpit. I was drawn in by the hundreds of microscopic buttons and switches. I glanced at the pilots, both males in their mid-fifties and their hair was starting to gray. A deep feeling of fascination and curiosity arose in me. They were occupied and were getting ready to start the plane, and were pressing all sorts of buttons and were speaking in aviation terms that were incomprehensible. I envied them. They were able to power such a massive and beautiful piece of machinery, and I was jealous. I suddenly had the urge to go inside. As I walked inside the cock pit, the pilots turned around to see me, a tiny girl with a ridiculous big toothy grin on her face. I said with glee how, “One day I want to be a pilot just like you guys.” The pilots were welcoming, and allowed me to sit in the pilot’s seat. As they were explaining to me what the buttons would do, I was hardly listening because I couldn’t believe I was actually sitting in the cock pit. I kept my hands in my lap, as I was afraid to press any buttons that might make the plane self-destruct. After learning a few things about the cockpit, I eventually …show more content…

He was shocked, and he was proud. He was excited that his little girl wanted to be a pilot, just like he wanted to be when he was younger. When my dad was young, he used to ride his bike to the Reno International Airport runway, and would watch the planes take off for hours while he sat in the grass and licked an ice cream cone. His love for aviation passed down to me. Recently, we visited the Boeing Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington. Needless to say, my dad and I were drooling, as we feasted our eyes on 787 dream liners and massive 747 planes. My dad and I definitely share a love for

Open Document