Originally a pre-nursing major at Angelo State, Taylor was on a family vacation in Florida when she realized she wanted to become a pilot after seeing the U.S. Navy Blue Angels aerial flying team perform.
“I always had the idea of traveling as a career,” Taylor said. “I knew it was something I wanted to do. I just never sought out a career in aviation until I went to Florida.”
“I saw that ASU was starting a commercial aviation program, and I thought, I want to join that,” she added. “I want to be a part of that.”
Knowing her passion for flying was not going away, Taylor switched her major in the middle of the semester from pre-nursing to commercial aviation.
“I started after the students had already begun their first few weeks,” she said. “Luckily, Scott Turner let me join the program.”
“I get to say that I graduated from ASU and was in the first group. I am ecstatic to see what it becomes over the years.”
As commercial aviation program director, Turner pushes Taylor’s abilities to new heights, and her passion for flying continues to soar.
“Scott is here for us all the time, in and out of the classroom,” she said. “He is motivational, and not only gives us tips to succeed in aviation, but tips to succeed in life.”
As part of the inaugural class in the commercial aviation program, Taylor is excited to help lay the groundwork for future students.
“I am really excited about being the first group to go through the program,” she said. “I get to say that I graduated from ASU and was in the first group. I am ecstatic to see what it becomes over the years.”
Taylor’s passion for flying also shows in her dedication to her goals.
“I recently got my private pilot certificate,” she said. “If I wasn’t working or in class, I was studying. I even cut out time with friends and going out. That is a big part of finding something you enjoy, you devote all of your time to it.”
Scheduled to graduate from ASU in 2024, Taylor already has her sights set on her career.
“After graduation, I plan to instruct students for a while so I can build up hours,” she said. “I will eventually transfer to commercial airlines.”
From changing her major to finding her passion, ASU has given Taylor many opportunities to grow and gain real-world experience.
“ASU is a big enough place to meet new people and find new opportunities, but it isn’t big enough to feel lost,” she said. “ASU gives you an idea of what to expect in the real world, but at the same time, it won’t frighten or scare you off. There’s just enough room to explore, but not enough to overwhelm you.”
