Harnessing the Power of Self-Belief
- 536 words
Introduction
To speak in commemoration of Amelia Earhart is to admire a strong woman and pioneer she was. Born on July 24, 1987, in Atchison, Kansas, Earhart grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, where her love of adventure developed. However, family struggles threatened to end Earhart’s dreams since changing homes disrupted her academically. By the time Earhart was declared dead after her plane disappeared in 1939, she had set various aviation records. Despite Earhart’s challenges, she persevered and inspired others. Earhart is remembered for being the first female pilot who flew alone across the Atlantic Ocean. There is no surprise about Earhart’s desire to become a pilot, write about flying, and be a pioneering engineer in aviation to inspire others.
Desire to Become a Pilot
Earhart’s pilot career was short-lived. Her interest in flying began in Toronto, and she immediately followed flying exhibitions to understand the experience further. However, along the journey to become a pilot, Earhart endured family challenges and financial difficulties, almost preventing her from continuing her academics.1 Earhart pushed through, developed herself as a nurse, and later joined an aerial training center to gain more flying experience. Earhart was determined to become a pilot, and she realized this dream when Amy Phipps Guest decided to finance her first voyage around the Atlantic Ocean.2 Incredibly, she had an irresistible desire to see changes in aviation and get more women involved. As a result, Earhart wanted to fly commercially and share the same experiences of a pilot with others.
1. Emilio F. Iodice. “The Passion to Fly and to the Courage to Lead: The Saga of Amelia Earhart – Leading Women Into Flight.” The Journal of Values-Based Leadership 12, no. 2 (2019): 3, https://doi.org/10.22543/0733.122.1285.
2. Iodice, “The Passion to Fly and to the Courage to Lead,” 6.
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Writing About Flying
During her life, Earhart wanted to share her interest and experiences in flying by writing books. In reality, chronicling books would take her fans on a magnificent journey of the places she visited. Earhart’s work continues to inspire people interested in flying and aviation, especially among young female prospects.3 Notably, Earhart’s work still continues to inspire and encourage people since stories about her can be told from an informed perspective. Moreover, Earhart talked about family and life challenges she encountered, which are similar to problems women seeking careers face today.4 In this case, Earhart’s fight to see that women were equally treated and granted access to the same opportunities is something that continues to inspire society today. Earhart’s books can allow people to gain valid knowledge and experience, which are crucial for career development and personal growth.
3. Candice Goucher, Women Who Changed the World: Their Lives, Challenges, and Accomplishments Through History [4 volumes] (California: ABC-CLIO, 2022), 325.
4. Goucher, Women Who Changed the World, 328.
Pioneering Engineer in Aviation
The roles Earhart played were individual, influential, and pioneering. Her work in aviation was iconic, given the short period she spent there. Working on planes was demanding, setting her apart from women, like Ruth Nichols and Louise Thaden, who did not get the opportunity to fly.5 In turn, Earhart’s work typically comprised interacting with less technical departments since first-class pilots were expected to be top-notch. That is why in 1932, when Earhart set off for the trans-Atlantic flight, she understood the joy and the opportunity of experiencing something new that would revolutionize aviation.6 Indeed, Earhart stood for resilience and equality since she came from a background where struggling was part of life. She is a personality who will continue to live among the memories of people and society.
5. Keith O’Brien, Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019), 139.
6. O’Brien, Fly Girls, 142.
Conclusion
Perhaps, the answers to such a personality come from Earhart’s background and the challenges she overcame. No matter how things ended for her, Earhart’s legacy continues to flourish, while the memory of her adventure shines a light on girls and women. Unfortunately, she will never know the impact of her career and role in changing the perspective on flying and female struggles. Thus, the memory of Amelia Earhart is visibly entrenched in the aviation sector, while the hearts of women are still fighting for equality.
Bibliography
Goucher, Candice. Women Who Changed the World: Their Lives, Challenges, and Accomplishments Through History [4 volumes]. California: ABC-CLIO, 2022.
Iodice, Emilio F. “The Passion to Fly and to the Courage to Lead: The Saga of Amelia Earhart – Leading Women Into Flight.” The Journal of Values-Based Leadership 12, no. 2 (2019): 1-30. https://doi.org/10.22543/0733.122.1285.
O’Brien, Keith. Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019.
