Celeste Vazquez

My final year of high school is comprised of many new subjects, but they are building blocks that keep me invigorated in learning. In particular, my Engineering PLTW class caused me to take my dreams a step further after being exposed to aerodynamics. For my first semester, I was given an assignment in which I had to develop an airfoil design that could be tested using a wind tunnel. This assignment consisted of creating a wing prototype and writing a research paper on the dynamics of the design. After completing this project, I reflected on what I learned by determining the extent to which a pilot or wing manufacturer must know the material that I was studying. It made me more interested in exploring the realm of flying an airplane. I then extended my learning to more subjects. I found that there is Physics within this realm of Engineering. There are forces and pressures acting upon an object such as this when wind acts upon it. For example, by creating a Free Body Diagram of the wing, there are forces such as thrust, lift, drag, and weight affecting the wing and its design. Moreover, Bernoulli’s Equation helps explain the reason why air moves under the wing (to keep it in the air) instead of moving over it – when positioned correctly. As a part of my endeavor to learn independently, I studied elements of aviation so that I could practice piloting a small plane. I researched the instruments and scenarios that any pilot must refer to when in the air. This introduced me to elements such as the horizon (which changes as the plane’s altitude changes) and the pedals (which act as the brakes of the plane). I then went on to put my skills to the test by participating in a Discovery Flight at Beach Cities Aviation Academy. As I flew from the city of Hawthorne to the city of Torrance, I practiced looking at the horizon rather than looking at the instruments. The experience in itself was awe-inspiring, but what pushed me to seriously consider obtaining a career in aviation was the recommendation of the receptionist. Now, as I plan for life beyond high school, I consider her advice of obtaining two careers – one being a commercial air pilot. She gave me articles that displayed statistics of how a career in aviation is much more profitable (in the long-run) than many other top professions. Moreover, because there are fewer women pilots than men pilots, I will have a greater chance of obtaining a secure job if I do choose to pursue it. I am currently leaning toward the idea of having two careers.