Her Story
About Grace
I'm a student pilot pursuing my dream of flying for major airlines. I've been flying for 3 years and have been in flight school for 5 years total. My most notable achievement so far is earning my private pilot's license. Before aviation, I worked in customer service and hospitality - entry-level jobs that helped me finance my college education. My typical day requires intense time management: I wake up around 6 AM for morning flights, making sure I'm well-prepared and well-studied on what I'll be covering. During flights, I keep my eyes open and stay three steps ahead of the airplane, putting together all available information to ensure smooth flights. After flying, I attend classes where I prepare for tests, pay attention to detail, and engage with my professors. Some days I also work in the evening. My journey has been shaped by foundations and organizations that offer scholarships and increase visibility, especially those that help me connect with other female professionals in the field who can mentor me and answer my questions. What inspires me most is nature - I love how I feel and the view when sitting at altitude, just cruising through the air. I find it fascinating that I can achieve something like that, and I think God is the best Creator of all time. Everything being exactly the way it is - it's fascinating, interesting, and beautiful to experience.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Grace
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my parents. I have immigrant parents who basically put their whole life on the line to give their children a shot at something great in this life. Being able to put a smile on their face and to look after them is definitely my biggest motivator.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is that everybody's journey is different. Everybody's strengths and weaknesses are different, so that shows up differently in how flight training goes, or just positioning yourself for your professional career in the future.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's gonna be challenging, but you can definitely do it. You can conquer that fear. You can ace that class. You could pass that test. You could definitely do it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge I face in the field right now, besides personal financial challenges, is keeping up with all the changes that are being made regularly. Things are advancing and changing, so change will be a challenge. As for opportunities, I see the opportunity to create smaller groups or communities where people can find others who are doing similar things or who are in similar situations, and then help each other provide solutions. These smaller communities within a school or a city can help people come together and reach their goals.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are respect, integrity, and resilience. Respect goes a long way. If I had to narrow it down to those three, those would be the values that stand out.
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