Training and Proficiency

My Mentors, and What They Mean to Me

By Ava Rian Shelly

Friday, September 24, 2021 at 02:31 PM ET

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Ava Shelly has started taking flight lessons in this Cessna 172. Courtesy of Ava Shelly/Mike Shelly

Key Takeaways:

Flight training is exceptionally challenging, requiring aspiring pilots to overcome not only technical hurdles but also significant personal insecurities and self-doubt.
Mentorship is presented as a critical factor in making the difficult process of flight training easier, with the author emphasizing the value of surrounding oneself with experienced guides.
The author, 13-year-old Ava Rian Shelly, illustrates the power of mentorship through personal examples, including her CFI, a female Naval Flight Officer who inspires her dream of becoming an F-35C pilot, and leaders from aviation organizations like the EAA and 99s.
To be a successful mentee, one must proactively reach out, seek advice, welcome instruction and criticism, and remain prepared and engaged in their own training journey.

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Flight training is hard—I mean really hard.

By Ava Rian Shelly