I had the honor of receiving funds from the Waring School faculty grant program to continue my flying lessons. Therefore, I’d like to share a bit about the role that flying plays in my life. For me, the real thrill of flying is landing the plane. Taking off and flying around is fairly straightforward. Looking down on familiar landscapes offers a new perspective on terrain that I know well. Directing this craft is like driving a car, a tractor, a bike, a boat. And, I’ve always enjoyed driving. I’ll happily get in my car and drive 12 hours to my grandmother’s house in OH. The joyful journey consistently offers news experiences. When I first started flying (controlling the aircraft from the pilot’s seat myself), it was a bit scary. I’ve been flying since I was little, but that was different. Both of my parents had their private pilot certifications at one point. My uncle flew, my cousins too. Therefore, my brother and I used to attend airshows and ride co-pilot with someone fairly often. I’ve always thought of the desire to be up in the clouds to be in my blood. That, however, doesn’t mean this study has been easy for me. Once I learned the capabilities of a plane, I slowly pushed myself to bank more steeply in turns and fine-tune my heading and altitude. What has always challenged me is the landings.