Diamond In the Skies: The Sky Is Not the Limit

“87 Bravo Bravo Alpha Delta, preparing for take off. Wind speed…Northeast…for altitude…”

“Copy. 87 Bravo Bravo Alpha Delta, have a great flight.”

I surely wasn’t able to understand the aviation jargon that I just witnessed as I sat in the passenger seat of a plane in Nashua, New Hampshire. My little sister was in the pilot seat, and we were just seconds away from takeoff. In front of me there were a plethora of gauges, buttons, switches and displays that I had no clue the function of. There was also an additional steering wheel in front of me. I surely wasn’t touching that thing! But no need. My sister, five years my junior, had this whole flying thing under control. I was well aware of that long before I decided to take this flight by her side.

One thing I knew for sure was that this girl did not half step in anything she had ever participated in. If she decided to take part in something, her best efforts were always put forward. I spent years watching her in leadership positions, and it has always been apparent that she knew her role and her ability to excel. She was always on the honor roll in school, had taken the stage in front of numerous crowds in talent shows, held the class president position for three consecutive years in high school, sang the national anthem to kick off countless events, had very often been the go-to person for important projects for her friends and family, and now has an essential role coordinating in the aviation operations for a national protection company that she currently works for. This girl, long ago, mastered being the one that others depend on. So when it was time to fly in her plane, was I scared? Not even a little bit!

Sheena flew the plane that day as if it was second nature to her. Fearless and enthusiastic to have me aboard, she took us through the clouds like she had done this many many times before. And she had! As we soared through the sky, I was elated thinking how proud I was of everything Sheena had become. She had taken on the challenge of becoming something that was completely foreign to everything she had known. She knew what she wanted, believed in herself, charged forward to accomplish the vigorous requirements, and successfully became what she aspired to be - a pilot. Little does she know her big sister very much admires her and is constantly inspired by her.

Statistically speaking, females make up only about five percent of the pilot population in our country. Additionally, African-Americans only account for about three percent of the pilot population. This female African-American pilot is a complete uncommon in her field, and I am so proud of her for not letting that intimidate her, but instead inspire her to be present, and be great at what she does.

A heavily followed Inspiration profile, Aviators of Color, has featured Sheena’s accomplishments numerous times as an inspiration to people all over the country. With an Aviation Management degree in hand, a license to fly drones, a pilot’s license, and being an amazingly beautiful young woman with a warm heart and an unforgettable presence, I want my sister to know that we are all so proud of her, and she is not only an inspiration to us, but to others all over the world.

Keep climbing to your dreams, Sheena. For most people we say “sky is the limit,” but for you it is just the beginning.

Photos courtesy of Leehna Ware

To sign up for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities click here.