My birthday has officially passed, and with Christmas coming up, so many of you have asked what I want for the holidays. I tried (really tried) to make an Amazon list… but after a couple weeks of staring at my phone, I realized the only thing I truly want this season is flight training. I’m currently a student officer for four aviation organizations at MSU Denver, involved in pretty much every aviation group on campus, a student lead in the department, and a SpaceTech Scholars mentor. I’m holding a 3.52 GPA (my mom says that’s perfect… academia disagrees ). I’m majoring in Aviation and Aerospace Management and working toward becoming a commercial airline pilot. I originally planned to pursue the Professional Flight Officer degree, but I don’t qualify for the large loan required for the advanced flight training. Because of that, I’m paying for flight hours completely out-of-pocket while working four jobs and attending school full-time. I’m also continuing to stack every opportunity I can. Over Thanksgiving break, I’m studying with another SpaceTech Scholar to earn my STK Level 2 certification. I earned Level 1 last spring, and I’m using every resource MSU Denver offers. System Tool Kit is a big advantage for landing a job right after graduation so I can start paying down student loans and keep flying. Between flight teams, SpaceTech Scholars, and all the student organizations I’m part of, I’m giving this path everything I’ve got. If effort counts for anything, I’m all in. Beyond the cockpit, I have bigger goals with aviation. I want to help people and animals in places that are hard to reach communities without easy access to food, medical supplies, or care, and animals that need rescuing with no way out. A close friend of mine runs a nonprofit food rescue, and seeing the impact she makes inspired me to want to do the same one day through aviation. This GoFundMe helps cover flight instructor fees, aircraft rental, and a few small but necessary items like an altimeter mount, a gear bag, and a flight suit,  plus a few things I use as a skydiving coach. Even five dollars makes a difference. Every six minutes in an airplane brings me closer to the ratings I need and the future I’ve been working toward for years. Thank you for believing in me, supporting me, and being part of this journey,  especially during this season of giving. It truly means more than you know. ❤️ ~ Billy Student Pilot | Skydiving Coach | Future Airline Pilot