Anupama (Sigma) Kar

First of all, thanks to the Debbie Franceus Memorial Foundation for standing as a rock through my aviation journey since day one. This is Sigma Kar. I am currently working towards my ASEL Instrument rating. Simultaneously, I am pursuing my master's degree in aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle in Florida. I am an aerospace engineer and pilot, and I want to serve in the Air Force as a pilot officer. I am working towards becoming an astronaut and helping with human exploration in space.

I have gotten my PPL in Michigan through Crosswinds Aviation. I have gotten to start my aviation journey much later in life. Being a woman, I was not even allowed to pursue higher education, let alone aspire to have an aviation career. Thanks to my mother, who was courageous enough to stand up for me and give me a chance at life. After overcoming a traumatic upbringing, countless financial hardships, rough training experiences, etc. I am here. When you choose yourself, people will try to pull you down, and circumstances will be adverse. Sometimes, there will be years when you will not see any progress. All hopes will be lost. That is where you must lift yourself up. Find all the people who are happy to stand by you, who uplift you. Take a break if needed. Sit down and think. Weigh your options. Talk to people. Ask for help. Show up. Figure it out because remember, your life, your dream is your responsibility. If you give up, nobody is coming to save you, but if you take that first step, you do whatever you can do, god will amplify that. Faith over fear. While the weather is not good, you have to wait. You can make that waiting fun by doing other things related to aviation, like volunteering! However, one thing is paramount. If you want it, you have to be stubborn enough to fight for it relentlessly and put effort continuously, whether the circumstances are favorable or not.

It is like surfing. Sometimes, you struggle solely to stay afloat, sometimes, the waves knock you off the surfboard, but you must get back up. But that one time when the perfect conditions happen, you get one beautiful ride on a perfect wave, and that one ride is worth it all.