The next in our series of “What Flying Taught Me About Myself” is from scholar Jules Chantal who says:-
“I planned to answer this question in British Sign Language, but every time I tried, I became tearful — a sign of just how much my flying scholarship means to me.
My scholarship marked the moment I began to see myself clearly again. After years of physical challenges and emotional upheaval, I had lost sight of the strength I still carried. Flying helped me find it.
Living away from the people I usually rely on taught me that I can cope alone. I found a quiet confidence in navigating new places, meeting new people, and making decisions in the aircraft. That independence helped me trust my own judgement again — something I didn’t realise I’d lost until I began rebuilding it in the cockpit.
The scholarship showed me that my physical difficulties don’t define my limits. With the right support and mindset, I can achieve things I once believed were out of reach. And in the air, something unexpected happened: the emotional weight I’d been carrying since 2022 felt lighter. For the first time in a long time, I felt joy, pride, and possibility.
Perhaps the most powerful lesson was this: I can fly both literally and metaphorically. Flying an aircraft made that real, but the deeper truth was learning that I can rise above what life has thrown at me, rebuild my confidence, and move forward with strength.
For years, I believed that bad things happen to good people. Now, I finally believe that good things happen to good people too.
My flying scholarship didn’t just teach me to Reach for the Sky — it helped me rediscover who I was, and discover who I am becoming.”
