Before a pilot can be cleared for takeoff, there is a lot of preparation that has to happen.

The pilot must complete:

• PREFLIGHT CHECKLIST: Ensure the aircraft is in good condition, including visual inspections and emergency systems testing. 
• PAPERWORK: Ensure all necessary paperwork is completed, including signing out from the airport and filing a flight plan if required. 
• PAVE Checklist: assess risks related to Pilot, Aircraft, Environment, and External Pressures.
• Self-Assessment: Evaluate one’s fitness for flight, considering physical, mental, and emotional state, and any potential distractions.
• Safety Standards: Understand the safety standards and procedures for takeoff, including the exchange of controls between pilots.

Similar to how pilots take measures for success, so do high school students as we get ready to embark on our journeys after graduation. The STEM career exploration and club activities we have in our SWENext club are key components of the due diligence, self-exploration, and personal development that we need for building our own successful “flight plans” for life after high school.

The pre-college activities, club discussions, and leadership training we have available with the support of the Society of Women Engineers give us opportunities we need to find our passions and grow into being people who are well equipped and ready for what comes next.

And as importantly is the collaborative and fun community that we build along the way. Though our eyes are on our destinations, these relationships and the joy they bring on the journey is what life is all about. Just ask Maverick and Goose!

So dig in, find your wingman, and prepare for takeoff!

Over and out,

Vivian Avera

Courtesy: “Top Gun” produced by Paramount Pictures (1986)