In my pursuit of becoming a professional pilot, this dream did not come easily. Throughout my life, I have lived in a culture with defined gender roles, and I did not realize that women could strive for more in a career. I saw a few movies that encouraged the independence of career women, but I was always told that these were just portrayals in movies. My dream of becoming a pilot began with a love for heights. As a child, I would climb trees, jump off cliffs, and dream of having the superpower of flight.
I was first introduced to flying when I went skydiving, and I fell in love with flying all over again when I became a flight attendant. During my time as a flight attendant, I ferried a flight and had the opportunity to experience my first take-off and landing, which solidified my dream. I knew I was meant to be a pilot.

I have experienced several life changes over the years, both good and bad. My Love of sixteen years was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer during my career as a flight attendant. He was a strong supporter and saw my enthusiasm when I spoke of becoming a pilot. After his passing, I was not encouraged to start a pilot program. However, a few years later I remarried, but this relationship coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, which was another difficult chapter in my life. Being in such a vulnerable stage in life after my his passing, I was unaware of the negative impact this new marriage would have on my future. We were a couple drawn together by shared hardship, and while I was still dealing with my loss, he was dealing with the challenges of being a single dad. In hindsight, I wish I had a better understanding of what the future held for me, especially with the pandemic affecting everyone in the world.

Unfortunately, my recent divorce has led me to leave California and move in with my family, uprooting my life and leaving behind friends, family, and work, with no financial support. My family has gathered funds to help me pursue my dream of becoming a pilot, which is encouraging. Their support motivates me to achieve this dream for myself and for them.

I am a first-generation Filipino American. My parents made the sacrifice of leaving everything behind, including friends, family, and their home country. In following in their footsteps, I will become the first Filipina American pilot in our family, just as my parents were the first Filipino Americans in our family.