Lessons Learned by Bessie Coleman by Skyler

Lessons Learned by Bessie Coleman by Skyler - October 2021 Scholarship Essay

Sometimes we read just to read, or even just to clear our minds of the things that are going on in the world today. When I read the book called Fly high by Bessie Coleman, I knew right then and there I was meant to become a pilot, it really did put things into perspective for me. I am young 17-year-old African-American young woman with aspirations of becoming a pilot.

When Bessie Coleman was a child, she wanted to be in school, not in the cotton fields of Texas, helping her family earn money. She wanted to be somebody significant in the world. So, Bessie did everything she could to learn under the most challenging of circumstances.

As of today, there are about 8.4% of female pilots and around 3% are African-American and of that number, the number of women is even lower. I know I have a long expensive road ahead of me, but by reading her book, it taught me about determination and persistency. In the book many thought she couldn't read because she was poor and her family worked in crops, but she proved them wrong by knowing math and teaching herself different things.
I learned that nothing will be given to you, and you will have to work extraordinarily hard to get where you want to be. To earn respect in a male, dominate field, one will definitely have to work extra hard to earn the respect from others.
I can say I didn’t know any woman pilots. I do not know any girls like me who want to fly, and I only know now because I have researched and visited colleges with aviation programs, and I have been selected into the Pilot program at the University of Oklahoma.
Knowledge is power, and this book gave me so much hope and to believe in myself when I feel like I can’t go on. I know I have a long road ahead of me, but I am willing to fight for it, just think if Bessie Coleman gave up, she would have not accomplished all she wanted.
I am here to achieve, inspire, and take charge of my own destiny.

Thank you!