What Flying Taught Me About Myself – Kevin at Cranwell
In our latest What Flying Taught Me About Myself story, FSDP scholar Kevin Geals reflects on a moment that changed everything — and it didn’t happen in an aircraft. It happened at Cranwell.
Before joining FSDP, Kevin admits, “I felt like an outcast in a world designed for non‑disabled people… I learnt that it is impossible to love life if you do not love yourself.”
But walking into the FSDP selection process at RAF Cranwell was a turning point he never expected.
For the first time, he was surrounded by people who understood — not because they shared the same disability, but because they shared the same resilience, humour, and drive. “I no longer had to hide my disability. I could be open and honest… and I felt astonishingly safe.”
That safety unlocked something powerful. Kevin found equality. He found confidence. He found laughter — real, unrestrained laughter he hadn’t felt in years. “I left the selection process feeling energised, having made genuine lifelong friends.”
Cranwell wasn’t just a gateway to flying. It was a gateway to belonging.
Thank you, Kevin, for reminding us why community matters — and why FSDP exists.
#FSDP #FlyingScholarship #Cranwell #WhatFlyingTaughtMe #DisabilityRepresentation #AviationForAll #Belonging #InclusionMatters #PilotLife #CommunityInTheAir
