When I was young, I never thought that the cockpit was going to be my future office. Thanks to the Science and Aviation program at Waterloo I can give life to my dreams, spread my wings, and soar high.
In high school, I was torn between studying chemistry and studying aviation, but this program allows me to combine both of my passions. It’s like a dream come true! Before starting university, I was very nervous because I didn’t know what to expect… my high school never offered any aviation-related classes. However, I have found a second home through this program. Everyone in the Waterloo aviation community makes it very fun, enjoyable, welcoming, and inclusive and I am overjoyed that being in the Aviation Student Ambassador Program (ASAP) has provided me with the opportunity to conduct outreach about this!
It was such an honour to represent the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) and the aviation programs at Waterloo at Georges Vanier Secondary School (GVSS) in October, along with another member of ASAP, Samuel. When we went to GVSS, it was so incredible to see the look of fascination and excitement on the students’ faces, and my favourite part was the number of questions they had. They asked us questions pertaining to our own flight training, the University programs, and the aviation industry and sustainability, which reminded me of my younger self who was equally as keen about these topics.
This really showed how intrigued everyone was by our presentation and what a wonderful idea it is that WISA is deciding to collaborate with high schools to promote aviation and sustainability. The most impressive moment for me was when I saw how passionate the female students in the class were about aviation, and how they felt inspired by seeing a female give a presentation about such a male-dominated industry. Getting the chance to elaborate on my personal experiences, as well as motivate students with positive insights so they can also pursue a career in aviation, was extremely rewarding for me!
ASAP is such a valuable program that allows experienced students, like myself, to connect with enthusiastic high school students to encourage them to step foot into the aviation industry and learn about the endless possibilities that exist in this world. I am so grateful that ASAP gave me the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution within my community and leave an impactful statement on the leaders of tomorrow. I am looking forward to participating in many more outreach and community engagement events with WISA in the future!