WHat
Tori
MENTORING CAN DO FOR
YOU!
The Cambridge mentored people Dictionary defines in the workplace the word ‘mentor’ in my roles as as “an experienced an Aerospace and trusted person Engineer, Program who gives another Manager and person advice and Business Leader. I help, esp. related to have been a Women in work or school, over a period Aviation International (WAI) By Jill Meyers of time.” In Greek mythology, Chapter President several times Mentor was a loyal friend and adviser since 2012 (currently leading the to Odysseus, king of Ithaca. Mentor helped San Diego Chapter), which has afforded raise Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, while Odysseus me opportunity to mentor quite a few young was away fighting the Trojan War. Mentor became women. I met some very special Embry-Riddle Telemachus’ teacher, coach, counselor and protector, Aeronautical University (ERAU) students through my building a relationship based on affection and trust. support to Dreams Soar, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to inspiring youth about Science, Technology, Engineering I have been a mentor for many years, and one of the and Math (STEM) education and aviation careers. reasons I spend so much of my own time helping Some of these mentor-mentee relationships resulted others is because I never had a mentor. When I was in from specific requests for my help, and others just high school, I was already passionate about aviation happened organically through building relationships and earned my pilot’s license during my senior year. and friendships. Here are some of my success But because I never saw any women working in stories, which I hope will educate the readers to the aviation jobs, it never occurred to me that I could importance of either finding a mentor or being be a professional pilot, aircraft mechanic, air traffic a mentor. controller, or airport manager. As Dr. Sally Ride, the first American female astronaut in space, said: “You As President of the WAI San Diego Chapter, can’t be what you can’t see.” If young girls don’t see I collaborate with several flight schools in the area. One women working in a given career field, especially a of them contacted us in 2016 to offer scholarships for male-dominated one, they may never know what’s 10 high school or college age girls to experience a “Do possible. My teachers and guidance counselor were You Want to be an Airline Pilot?” introductory flight. not much help regarding career advice, despite me We selected the students to participate in this graduating near the top of my class and receiving a , age 19 program, including Victoria (Tori) Peck. full scholarship to college. And since I didn’t have any at the time, had been inspired by Amelia Earhart in mentors outside of school, I had no one to guide me or the 4th grade, dressing up like the famous aviator give advice on what my future could hold. for a school project. Tori’s uncle, an airline pilot, also encouraged her to fly. But Tori stated that it wasn’t So, I became a mentor to provide others the type until I connected with her and offered her one of of support I never had in my youth. I have
Tori
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