Amelia
was born on July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas. In her early years she would
spend the winter months with her grandparents, so she could attend a college
preparatory school. She
would then spend her summers with her parents. Although the social standards at the time
where that young girls should act in a ladylike fashion, Amelia was an
adventurer, and sometimes found it hard to comply with those standards. Throughout
Amelia Earhart life, she continued to break records, beginning with the first
female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic, she wrote bestselling books
about her flying experience, an played an active role in counseling women, and
a member of the National Woman's Party. Amelia was also the president of the Ninety
Nines, a new women's aviation club. Amelia was a brave and dedicated woman
throughout her entire life.
Amelia saw her very first aircraft at the age of 10, when her father
took her to the state fair. Her comment was "It was a thing of rusty wire
and wood and looked not at all interesting". (The Official Website of
Amelia) During this time airplanes were very basic, they were
unsafe, and were not capable of flying very fast or very far. During this
period airplanes were just being built and Amelia did not know very much about
planes, or flying. A few years down the road she had her second
encounter with an airplane. As she and a friend were playing
outside, she noticed and watched as a plane was flying overhead; the pilot
noticed them and nose-dived the plane directly at them. It was noted
as her saying "I am sure he said to himself, watch me make them
scamper". But she did not scamper, she stood her ground,
feeling a combination of fear and pleasure. As the plane flew by, something
inside her aroused, "I believe that little red airplane said something to
me as it swished by". ("The Official Website of Amelia Earhart")
As Amelia got older she discovered her passion for flying. In 1920, Amelia took her first plane ride at a stunt fair,
even though the ride only lasted 10 minutes she knew she wanted to learn how to
fly. The official of website of Amelia Earhart quotes her in saying "By the time I had got
two or three hundred feet off the ground, I knew I had to fly." (The
official website of Amelia Earhart) In 1921 she took her first
flying lesson, and later purchased her first airplane. In 1932, she became the first female to fly by herself across
the Atlantic Ocean. (Biography Notes for Amelia Earhart, Aviator) Amelia
Earhart was at work one day when she received a phone call that would change
her life. "April 1928, a phone call came for Earhart at work."I'm too
busy to answer just now," she said. After hearing that it was important,
Earhart relented, though she thought it was a prank. It wasn't until the caller
supplied excellent references that she realized the man was serious. "How
would you like to be the first woman to fly the Atlantic?" he asked, to
which Earhart promptly replied, "Yes!"
Amelia Earhart was a brave person, she took risks and challenges that
other people wouldn't of taken. She was determined to try her best and conquer
new things. "Amelia remains a symbol of the power and perseverance of american
women, and the adventurous spirit [is] so essential to the American persona"
(Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum) Amelia never settled for "okay" or "good"
she wanted to be the best she could be. Amelia inspires me to pursue my dream
of becoming a military fighter pilot. Just like Amelia faced lots of masculism
being a female pilot, I will also have to face lots of masculism. She has given
me the courage to fulfill my dreams therefore Amelia Earhart is my hero. Even
though Amelia Earhart did not live to tell her story, she changed the world
with her braveness and dedication. Amelia Earhart's plane was lost at sea while
attempting to fly around the world sometime around July 2, 1937 however She will be remember by many people around the world through countless tributes and memorials
Page created on 4/18/2014 12:00:00 AM
Last edited 4/18/2014 12:00:00 AM