Age: 19
Hometown: DeSoto, TX
School: Texas Southern University
Year: Freshmen
Career Aspirations: FedEx Cargo Pilot, Real Estate Investor
Hobbies & Interest: Aviation, Weightlifting, Running, Music
Organizations/Clubs: Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, (OBAP) National Society of Collegiate Scholars, (NSCS), Aircraft Owners & Pilots Associations, (AOPA)
Why are you passionate about aviation?
My passion for aviation truly stems from watching the movie about the Tuskegee Airmen. It sparked at a very young age when I would sit watching the Tuskegee Airmen movie and construct model airplanes out of paper. When you go back and look at what the airmen went through outside of aviation, as far as life itself, it was a struggle. The Tuskegee Airmen had one goal, which was to become pilots. They were determined to be the change, they were not afraid, and they all kept fighting regardless of what anybody said to them. I relate that to my life, everything I have been through, all the negative events, negative comments told to me from others was a struggle to go through. It hurt but through it all, I never doubted my God-given ability. I knew within myself I could do whatever I wanted if I put my mind to it and committed to the process.
My passion for flying comes from being able to see how the knowledge I obtained is shown. When I step foot in the plane and take my seat, I feel free, I know I’ve prepared, and I am in control. When I fly, I feel at peace. The sky is where I found my purpose during my first instructor-guided flight back in 2016.
What is your future aspiration?
I plan to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Science Management with a Professional Pilot Concentration. I aspire to become a FedEx Cargo Pilot.
I hope to become an instructor to other aspiring student pilots like myself, in programs like OBAP and Tuskegee NEXT that have aided in my development. I also plan to invest in real estate.
Why did you choose to apply to Tuskegee NEXT?
I was first introduced to the Tuskegee NEXT Program while in OBAP and again by Xavier Samuels while attending TSU. When I visited the Tuskegee NEXT website for myself and chose to apply because I felt this program could help fulfill the next step in my journey, by providing a pathway to obtaining my private pilot license. I consider it a privilege to take part in a program that honors the great legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. It is an honor, to walk in the footsteps of men I’ve held in such high esteem since I was a young child.