Sarah-Grace Coren, a junior, who is very much involved in the GA community is also an aspiring student pilot.
Sarah-Grace first started flying at the beginning of her sophomore year in 2021 inspired by her fascination with her grandfather’s experiences as a pilot. Now, a year into taking flight lessons, Sarah-Grace is preparing to take her solo, a test in which the student will operate the plane without the assistance of an instructor and perform maneuvers such as takeoff and landing by using their aeronautical knowledge as well as their flight training.
In the state of Pennsylvania, residents are eligible to start flying at the age of 16 and can receive their pilot license at 17. Sarah-Grace seized this opportunity by participating in flight lessons immediately after she turned 16.
When asked about why flying matters to her, she mentioned that “women are historically underrepresented in aviation, both in recreational flying and in airlines.” Sarah-Grace hopes to change that by serving as a role model for society and inspiring others to chase their dreams. She also went on to say that she hopes to “pursue aviation in combination with [her] future career.”
Aside from being a student pilot, Sarah-Grace is also currently in the midst of becoming EMT certified. In order to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), 150-200 hours of training along with a written and practical exam is required. Sarah-Grace’s passion for medicine encouraged her to become EMT certified. In addition, she says “this is also a part of [her] goal of becoming a trauma surgeon and saving people’s lives.”
Sarah-Grace is grateful for her experience at GA, which helped her learn important skills for her EMT work: “being time efficient as an EMT is essential. I really appreciate all the support I receive from my peers and teachers each day,” said Sarah-Grace.
In her already busy schedule, Sarah-Grace still devotes time to contributing to the debate team as well as the robotics team. When reflecting on the lessons learned from being a part of the debate team, Sarah-Grace talks about how she has become a strong communicator as a result. She also goes on to say that “As one of the leaders, seeing underclassmen with their enthusiasm about the club makes [her] so happy.” Lastly, she claims that the “light-hearted” competition makes being a part of the team a valuable and enjoyable experience.
With the start of the winter season, Sarah-Grace is now participating in robotics for her second year. Sarah-Grace mentions that “the team spirit makes Robotics such an exciting adventure every day.” She is very appreciative of the leaders and her teammates for making the club “as wonderful as it is.”