First, I must tell you what I am not. I am not a second or third generation flier. I started into this line of work to my mother's surprise and my father's horror. I did not dream of becoming a pilot all of my life. When I was in grade school, girls became flight attendants (stewardess as we called them back then). I knew nothing else and that was totally acceptable to me. As a matter a fact, all of my girlfriends dreamed of becoming stewardesses. Travel, new places, having a job that was actually in the air that was very exciting. Some of you might remember the good old days. When someone was leaving town on an airplane, that was an event for the whole family. We would all get dressed up in our Sunday best, load up the car, and drive to the airport. We parked the car, and went in with them. We waited at the gate until we said our last good-byes they walked outside on the ramp climbed the stairs and disappeared into adventure land. Then we waited for the plane to pull away from the gate taxi out and take off. With deep sadness that it wasn't us on that plane, we left and went home. Who wouldn't want to be a stewardess back then?

I also remember back when I was in junior high school, my guidance counselor told me that I should start thinking about VO Tech school. I was supposed to take some high school classes and then go to tech school for training. I wouldn't need to go to college. Apparently my grades were just average. Now let me tell you. I thought that was fine. Obviously I had not learned to think for myself yet because I would have done anything they (the school counselors) had asked, but no one could have anticipated the one force capable of changing history ... MY FATHER. All my life he had told me I would go to college. It made no difference to me (a fourteen year old) but when my father got wind of the plans in place for me ... HE PITCHED A FIT! School was never the same.

Let me say this to the young people. I look back and realize that I was too naive to look out for my own best interest, but I was fortunate that someone cared enough to make sure, above all things, that my education came first. By the time he finished shaking his finger at everyone from the principal on down, I found myself signed up for math, science, and all sorts of intelligence raising classes. Needless to say, I was none too happy. Yet a couple of great things came of it. I ended up with a curriculum suitable for college. I got into a seniors only career study program that offered me the opportunity to go to a small airport and study every school day. While at that airport, although I could not take actual flying lessons, I learned to fuel airplanes, work the switchboard, talk to pilots, and study pilot ground school lessons. Once in a while they would take me on a short flight. One such flight was to the North Philadelphia Airport where I visited the air traffic control tower. THAT WAS IT. I had found what I wanted to be: An air traffic controller! One of the Head Big Guys showed me around and, when I expressed interest he talked to me about options. First, air traffic controllers don't have to have a degree to work in the tower or on a radar screen, but I would advance to better paying and more important positions if I had a college degree. I knew that would be right up my dads's alley. He told me there were two east coast schools that offered an Accredited Aeronautic Degree: Dowling College on Long Island, New York, or Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach, Florida. Keep in mind, my intention was air traffic control, not pilot. I had never seen a woman pilot so I STILL DIDN'T GET IT. I applied to only one college. Dowling!

My high school grades were a B average (that's my story and I'm sticking to it) and I was in the marching band if that made any difference to the Admissions Board. I doubt it. Well, they accepted me and in August of 1974 I was a freshman in college. Now would you believe Dowling College Aeronautic students got a 10% discount on their flight training at the local airport? I knew I wasn't there to fly, but something got a hold of me and the next thing I knew I was trying to convince my parents to come up with additional financial backing to let me fly. And they did. My part was to study (including a small job to pay expenses); their part was to raise the money. I didn't worry about it, but when I ran out of flying money (pay as you go) I had to stop flying. My parents would eventually raise the money and I would take several more lessons, and that's how it went. I soloed, got my license, and offered to take my parents flying all the time. My mom was intrigued, but CONCERNED. My dad said "NO WAY."

One day in my senior year the military had a seminar. You guessed it; I wasn't the least bit interested. I needed a special invitation. They bugged me forever until I would at least talk to them. They forced me to think about my future options. My private pilot's license, although pretty nifty, was hardly an impressive resume out in the real world. However my degree in aeronautics caught the interest of a number of military services. Yet it was the Navy that offered me the best challenge: Get through Aviation Officers Candidate School (boot camp) and fly with the Navy. My parents weren't sure they were ready to see their baby in the Navy, but the decision was mine and I took it.

My twenty-six years of flying (four in college) include being the first Black female aeronautic graduate from Dowling College, thirteen years in the Navy attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and being the first Black female Navy pilot. I flew seven different aircraft. I have 155 traps (or landings) on aircraft carriers. I flew VIP's out of Washington, D.C., and DC-9's in Desert shield and Desert Storm. I have also been a flight instructor. I have been around the world and back. One thing I never wanted to do was stop flying, so I applied to American Airlines and I've been flying with them for over eight years now.

In conclusion I want to say that although I started out gullible I did study and work very hard; harder than any of my schoolmates. That's just my opinion, of course. I have always known that comprehending difficult material required me to spend twice the amount of time in the books to achieve the same goal as others. I've grown to accept that. Determination is an incredible goal achiever. If you were to see me on the street, I look pretty ordinary. That is the one thing I am not and you should never assume of anyone you meet. None of us are ordinary. Each and every one of you is an exceptional success story. Don't let anyone steer you in the wrong, unhealthy, negative direction. Let those that care the most about you help you succeed. I'm here because of perseverance. I'm where I am today because someone cared.

By the way, I did take my mother flying in a Cessna 150 and she loved it. My father is my #1 supporter. Don't even think about asking Eddie Robinson (no relation to the coach), "How's your daughter?" unless you have at least an hour to spare!