The Moment
Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt like you didn’t belong?
I have—many times. I still do to this day.
I grew up as a first-generation Afghan American, one of six sisters. I wasn’t the top student, and for a long time, I believed the best I could do was get married and start a family—like many women from my country.
Then I discovered aviation.
Flying gave me a sense of freedom and adventure I had never experienced. But even when I first stepped into a cockpit, that feeling of not belonging crept in again.
Flight after flight, something shifted:
I realized that the airplane didn’t care where I came from or what I looked like.
It only cared about one thing—could I fly?
The Takeaway
That realization changed everything for me:
Your background does not define your potential.
That became my WHY.
And it was a message that aviation so beautifully taught me—one so powerful, I felt a sense of duty to share it with others around the world. Again, your background does not define your potential.
The Weight of the Moment- belonging
Now, when people ask me:
“What’s your biggest advice for someone who wants to fly around the world?”
My answer is simple: Know your WHY.
Because in moments when you have an entire ocean to cross with only one engine…
In moments when you see your family and friends back home, making memories without you…
In moments when you are dealing with head lice while crossing the ITCZ at 7,000 feet, dodging thunderstorms…
Believe me, it’s your WHY that will keep you going.
And this applies to any pursuit—not just flying.
It’s a practice I still rely on, especially in a world where tempting trends come and go.
No matter what goal or dream you are chasing, ask yourself WHY you are doing it—and remember that WHY during turbulent and testing times.
I believe having a strong WHY is the determining factor in why some people go farther—longer, higher, to greater distances.
