Everybody has a dream, that much I do know. Perhaps it’s a “calling,” but, if you’re like me, you call them your “bucket list items.” One of mine is becoming a private pilot.

While studying for my commercial drone pilot’s license, I realized how much I still needed to be in the air. See, two years ago, I ended my career as a flight nurse in a Bell 206 helicopter and had officially “drank the Kool-Aid.” I couldn’t accept my flight career was over.

I’d never been in a Cessna 172 but last September, we booked our seven-year-old a flight tour with High Tide Aviation and, admittedly, it was much different (and a little scarier) than being in a helicopter but it wasn’t enough to dissuade me; I knew aggressively pursuing my fears would teach me all I needed to know to overcome them. My approach to life is such that, the more something scares me, the more I force myself to learn about it. (Now, I embrace the feeling of being in a Cessna.)

On December 29, 2023, I booked my very first discovery flight with High Tide on SSI.

Months later, I still only have 5.6 logged flight hours and 2 ground hours; truthfully, I am painfully aware of pursuing such dreams while maintaining a full-time career and being a full-time mom. With lack of flexible childcare and a busy schedule, I had to take a few months off but am now officially back in the air! My goal is to have my PPL by the end of the year but I’m being very gracious with myself; life happens and everything occurs in perfect timing!

As I approach another hour of flight, I have decided to share my journey for three reasons:

1. To artfully capture my encounters with the sky as an expression of my love and gratitude for it

2. To offer special promotions through these posts to my photography services as a “thank you” for following along

3. To educate anybody who may be interested in pursuing a journey in aviation for themselves

What you can expect in these posts:

1. Beautiful imagery of my sessions

2. Educational pieces, tips, tricks, and other resources to aviation that are shared with me by my amazing instructor, Alex

3. Discount codes buried within the post. These codes will not only save you money on my sessions, but the sessions you book with me will help fund my dream of becoming a private pilot.

Use “FLYHIGH32” for 20% off your next hour-long session with me and be sure to keep checking in regularly for more posts! (This code expires at the publication of my next post.)