Flying! What it means to me is...
"Flight is freedom in its purest form, to dance with the clouds which follow a storm; To feel the joy that swells within; to roll and glide, to wheel and spin, To leave the earth with its troubles and fly, and know the warmth of a clear spring sky..."
Growing up I was the "Tom Sawyer" of aviation. While other boys my age were interested in cars and trucks I was the one into planes. I would question everything I see above. Why is the sky blue? Why do clouds look like cotton but yet float in the air above? I was inquisitive of how the earth would look like from the sky. I enjoyed flying kites with LIAT drawn on the side. Also, I enjoyed racing home from school to watch Animal Planet just so I could see the world from a bird's eye view, as the cameraman focused his camera from above. Doing these activities daily meant so much to me because the feeling I got would make me reminisce that place of freedom and peace where I was longing to be, flying in the sky.
My name is Rashidi Merrifield, a teenager with a burning passion, a desire an addiction, a dream to soar. Like many other teenagers I am fascinated about a specific career, mine being a pilot. I can remember on my first flight staring out of the glass window and thinking to myself "Wow this is the best feeling ever". While peeking out of the window I instantly fell in love with the view. The sky was an appealing shade of blue with scattered clouds slowly passing by, the shimmering sea below with the spectacular green Island of Antigua slowly fading out of sight. "The fascination of flight cannot be expressed with words ...Once you've experienced it, you'll never be able to forget it". I instantly became addicted to flying.
"I am happy to have popped into existence at a period so interesting."
When the Wright brothers invented and flew the first aircraft they created the opportunity for mankind to soar among the clouds, and to experience new adventures beyond the skies. They were giving me the ability to follow my God given dream. I strive for what I believe in and I refuse to give up. The poem "An Airman Grace" by John McGillivray, perfectly describes the sensation I feel towards aviation and the passion that dwells inside me. To this very day I spend my time researching and educating myself about aviation. To study how an aircrafts work and also obtaining knowledge on the different types of aircrafts and their classifications .This may be a dull activity to most, but I take great interest in it. "He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying". So let me walk, run, climb and dance even swim for that matter since I know my goal is to one day fly.
I strongly believe in this quote made by Confucius ". . . Find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life". This quote is embedded into my heart because I know flying does not feel like a job, but like a dream that I will never wake up from. I have an epiphany; I will go to great extents to fulfil my lifelong desire of becoming the best pilot there is. One who wants to experience the love and happiness that aviation brings. As my mother would always say, "Follow your heart and your dreams will come true", and that is what I am aspiring to do.
"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it".
The Wrights brothers had a dream and there were limitations; I also have my limitations for countless times my dreams have been laughed at, but for me they have become my motivation. You see, in life it is not a matter of what people say to me or the stumbling blocks I run into, it defines not who I am or my destiny. Why should I settle to be seated behind the holy vale? I know I belong in the place which any aviator would consider resembles the most holy of holies, where the captain sits and takes his passengers safely to their destinations while feeling a sense of pride and great self-worth.
"My soul is in the sky."
This Scholarship is the door which has been opened for me to begin that journey towards my dream; one day sitting in that captain seat to return where I belong in the sky. When movie stars and singers receive a Grammy or a flashy award, they feel as if they have accomplished the greatest deal of their whole lives. Well, for me receiving those gold epaulettes will be the greatest feeling in the world and a lifelong dream being fully accomplished. All I need is ONE opportunity to prove myself, to make my dream of flying a reality and at that overwhelming moment I will truly know how it feels to soar the skies, to be that pilot which passes on this dream to another young soul.
That day as I grab the controls and takeoff into the skies; the feeling of being trapped will forever be erased, and become replaced by a feeling of freedom. I would have accomplished what man wished to do since his very first existence. As the beams of a rising sun shines upon my departing aircraft; while my family looks on sensing the presence of God; he will be protecting me on my journey, and paving the way. I am honoured to have had this opportunity to share what flying mean.
"...Then back to earth at the end of a day,
Released from the tensions which melted away."
"Flight is freedom in its purest form, to dance with the clouds which follow a storm; To feel the joy that swells within; to roll and glide, to wheel and spin, To leave the earth with its troubles and fly, and know the warmth of a clear spring sky..."
Growing up I was the "Tom Sawyer" of aviation. While other boys my age were interested in cars and trucks I was the one into planes. I would question everything I see above. Why is the sky blue? Why do clouds look like cotton but yet float in the air above? I was inquisitive of how the earth would look like from the sky. I enjoyed flying kites with LIAT drawn on the side. Also, I enjoyed racing home from school to watch Animal Planet just so I could see the world from a bird's eye view, as the cameraman focused his camera from above. Doing these activities daily meant so much to me because the feeling I got would make me reminisce that place of freedom and peace where I was longing to be, flying in the sky.
My name is Rashidi Merrifield, a teenager with a burning passion, a desire an addiction, a dream to soar. Like many other teenagers I am fascinated about a specific career, mine being a pilot. I can remember on my first flight staring out of the glass window and thinking to myself "Wow this is the best feeling ever". While peeking out of the window I instantly fell in love with the view. The sky was an appealing shade of blue with scattered clouds slowly passing by, the shimmering sea below with the spectacular green Island of Antigua slowly fading out of sight. "The fascination of flight cannot be expressed with words ...Once you've experienced it, you'll never be able to forget it". I instantly became addicted to flying.
"I am happy to have popped into existence at a period so interesting."
When the Wright brothers invented and flew the first aircraft they created the opportunity for mankind to soar among the clouds, and to experience new adventures beyond the skies. They were giving me the ability to follow my God given dream. I strive for what I believe in and I refuse to give up. The poem "An Airman Grace" by John McGillivray, perfectly describes the sensation I feel towards aviation and the passion that dwells inside me. To this very day I spend my time researching and educating myself about aviation. To study how an aircrafts work and also obtaining knowledge on the different types of aircrafts and their classifications .This may be a dull activity to most, but I take great interest in it. "He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying". So let me walk, run, climb and dance even swim for that matter since I know my goal is to one day fly.
I strongly believe in this quote made by Confucius ". . . Find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life". This quote is embedded into my heart because I know flying does not feel like a job, but like a dream that I will never wake up from. I have an epiphany; I will go to great extents to fulfil my lifelong desire of becoming the best pilot there is. One who wants to experience the love and happiness that aviation brings. As my mother would always say, "Follow your heart and your dreams will come true", and that is what I am aspiring to do.
"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it".
The Wrights brothers had a dream and there were limitations; I also have my limitations for countless times my dreams have been laughed at, but for me they have become my motivation. You see, in life it is not a matter of what people say to me or the stumbling blocks I run into, it defines not who I am or my destiny. Why should I settle to be seated behind the holy vale? I know I belong in the place which any aviator would consider resembles the most holy of holies, where the captain sits and takes his passengers safely to their destinations while feeling a sense of pride and great self-worth.
"My soul is in the sky."
This Scholarship is the door which has been opened for me to begin that journey towards my dream; one day sitting in that captain seat to return where I belong in the sky. When movie stars and singers receive a Grammy or a flashy award, they feel as if they have accomplished the greatest deal of their whole lives. Well, for me receiving those gold epaulettes will be the greatest feeling in the world and a lifelong dream being fully accomplished. All I need is ONE opportunity to prove myself, to make my dream of flying a reality and at that overwhelming moment I will truly know how it feels to soar the skies, to be that pilot which passes on this dream to another young soul.
That day as I grab the controls and takeoff into the skies; the feeling of being trapped will forever be erased, and become replaced by a feeling of freedom. I would have accomplished what man wished to do since his very first existence. As the beams of a rising sun shines upon my departing aircraft; while my family looks on sensing the presence of God; he will be protecting me on my journey, and paving the way. I am honoured to have had this opportunity to share what flying mean.
"...Then back to earth at the end of a day,
Released from the tensions which melted away."