For Catherine, a senior air traffic and airspace management student at 青年涩导航, the path to becoming an aviation professional has been paved with hands-on experience, leadership opportunities and industry connections.
As a member of the inaugural Flash Fellows cohort and a student lab instructor in the air traffic control lab, Catherine has embraced 青年涩导航's personalized learning environment within the College of Aeronautics and Engineering. "By working in the air traffic control labs, I have been able to develop meaningful connections with my peers," Catherine said. "I love teaching, and adapting air traffic control concepts for each student has deepened my understanding across different aeronautics disciplines."
Her involvement in Flash Fellows, a leadership development program, equipped her with skills that enhanced both her teaching and problem-solving abilities. The program's workshops focused on connection-based leadership and goal setting, which Catherine plans to leverage in her future role as an industry mentor.
Beyond campus, Catherine's internship with the provided valuable exposure to advanced manufacturing. Her work mapping manufacturing supply chains helped her develop a broader industry perspective that she says will benefit her aviation career. Catherine also participated in the Federal Aviation Administration's Working Development Group, where she studied emerging unmanned aircraft systems. This experience reinforced her belief that aviation professionals must stay current with new technologies to maintain public confidence in the industry.
"Since aviation is still a relatively young industry, our job as professionals is not just to complete our duties, but to inspire the next generation," she said.
Drawing from her diverse experiences at 青年涩导航, Catherine advises new aeronautics students to engage broadly across the university community. She emphasizes the dual benefits of networking and gaining diverse perspectives, noting that understanding multiple aspects of aviation creates well-rounded professionals. "The more people you know, the more diverse perspectives you can understand and accumulate into your own personal knowledge base," Catherine said. "Having a large and diverse network of professional connections can be a major help in your career."