Byron-Bergen alum encourages students to chase their dreams
One day before the release of the Wicked sequel, another person who defied gravity and took to the sky visited Byron-Bergen Elementary School to share her message of perseverance with the students. Sheila Young, an airplane pilot and Byron-Bergen alum, recently wrote and illustrated a book to celebrate her love of flying and to encourage others to chase their big dreams. Young presented her story to students in grades K through 5 about how she overcame obstacles and achieved her dreams of flying a plane, becoming a photographer, and publishing a children’s book.
“This school is near and dear to my heart,” said Young. “This is where I used to chase crop dusters, which is the first page of my book, so it just seems perfect to bring the book back to where it originated.”
Young’s presentation centered around how she was repeatedly discouraged from pursuing her dream of becoming an airplane pilot until she met an octogenarian named Al, who became her mentor and helped her through flight school to earn her pilot’s license. Having achieved that goal, Young was emboldened to pursue other big dreams. The overarching theme of the presentation was that of believing in one’s big dreams and working to achieve them.
“I want to encourage you in whatever your big dream is,” said Young. “I think most of us are more multi-dimensional than what appears on the surface. Just because you’re good at STEM activities, it doesn’t mean that your ‘big dream’ isn’t to be an artist or writer, or vice versa. Everyone is here for a reason, and everyone has the power to do great things.”
The idea for Young’s book, I See an Airplane Up in the Sky, was conceived as a story Young wished she had read as a child. The main character, Sky, dreams of flying, but, having no wings or magical powers, she decides to become a pilot. The story is brought to life by Young’s imaginative illustrations, inspired by her photography.
“Our district really benefits from the depth and diversity of our alumni,” said Byron-Bergen Elementary Principal Kristin Loftus. “The impact on our students from meeting adults who started in their shoes and who are now pilots, authors, firefighters, farmers, teachers, doctors, or who have achieved any kind of big dream, is invaluable.”
As the students filed out of the assembly, Young gave each one a high-five. A few students paused to tell her their big dreams, to which she replied, “Great! You can do it!”
Provided information. Photos by Gretchen Spittler.
