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"We are the protagonists of our stories called life, and there is no limit to how high we can fly."


PHD. MBA. MHS. Type rated on A350, A330, B777, B747-400, B747-200, B757, B767, B737, B727. International Airline Pilot / Author / Speaker. Dedicated to giving the gift of wings to anyone following their dreams. Supporting Aviation Safety through training, writing, and inspiration. Fighting for Aviation Safety and Airline Employee Advocacy. Safety Culture and SMS change agent.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Kimberly Weis: Why I Want to Fly


Why I want to Fly

"I am just a normal person. I grew up in a suburb, graduated from college, got married, bought a home and had kids. I have the cookie cutter life, groomed to achieve the American dream by my hard working parents. Is it wrong to want more? To achieve something amazing that isn’t in the normal plans of regular people, a regular girl, and especially not in the plans of a regular mom? 

Maybe it was when I saw the Woman in Flight exhibit at the Museum of Flight. I saw those women taking on the roles of men because the men were fighting in wars. I saw the pictures and I wondered what it would be like to be alive back then, and if I would’ve been one of the ones who were selected to take to the air to help my country? How lucky they were to be able to achieve the challenge of flight. I was jealous of them. 

In my mind flying is something that rich young boys get to do, and the girls that do it must not have had brothers. To me becoming a pilot seems like something that you get to do if your father did it. I want my children to be interested in amazing things because their mom did it. My grandchildren can talk about their grandmother with great words and maybe I will be the topics of their school reports.

My education says I am a geographer, my business card says I am an on call computer technician. My husband is a teacher and his “teacher salary” is still the bread winner of the household. We’ve come to realize that our time is more valuable than dollars and learning new things is more valuable than acquiring new things. So we believe that we can fulfill our aspirations, but the high costs of raising young children with a modest income doesn’t allow for such costly goals without sacrifice. 

So I plan on putting off the challenge of flight till another time. But on a clear day I start doing the math and looking up the tuition costs and just daydream. I look up at the skies and wonder what the ground looks like. Rather than clouds I see holes in the sky. I can almost hear the whirl of the engine and imagine the smell of jet fuel. I realize that it’s up to me to fulfill my dreams. 

My husband supports and pushes me into the challenges that I present out loud which scares me. Usually my words are just thoughts, or subliminal suggestions that he’ll want to do so we can do it together. Girls usually take on the hobbies of their men, but I need to stop waiting for my husband to want to do something that I am interested in. I need to stop waiting around for a guy. I need to Fly."

Kimberly, call Galvin and schedule your free flight. Set an example for those kids! Their mom can do more than bring home the bacon and cook it up in the pan, she can fly! In a few days we will celebrate Mother's Day... do this for yourself.

Enjoy the Journey! 

~Karlene

5 comments:

  1. With support like that I have no doubt Kimberly will be flying in no time. My only advice would be, don't wait for your dreams. Life is too short.

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  2. This is one of the most beautiful, honest and inspiring statements I've read from a woman who feels lucky but knows there's more she can do to fulfill her dreams and set an example for her children. Wonderful. Kimberly, I hope you follow through on Karlene's advice and take that flight!

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  3. It's never too late. One of my first students once I complete my CFI will be my Mother. She's 77 years old. Another will be my daughter, who is 16. Buy a 1/4 share of an inexpensive aircraft such as a mid-1970's Cessna 150 (they are dirt cheap right now), find a CFI and start now.

    I let career and kids de-rail my flying for 10 years. I don;t really regret that, but I do have lost time to make up.

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  4. Rich young boys are not typical pilot canidates; they are the ones who don't make it through becauses daddys money cant buy a passion for flight or a work ethic to make it through. Most guys that I know come from mid income families who are financing theri flight training on loans and part time jobs. Others go through the military. You can't just have money and make it through- you have to work hard, no matter what your financial background. It takes hard work and dedication, regardless of gender.

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  5. Thanks fellow supporters.

    I am still very nervous and scared, but after reading these nice words I am again highly encouraged to get out and up. With (of course) hard work and dedication.

    Perhaps maybe we could all have a margarita, beer or scoop of mayonnaise and have a toast; or maybe get this girl some guts to get up up and away.

    cheers.

    kw

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