Capt. Nancy Martin-Belitz on Empowering Youth through Adopt-A-Pilot

[nmartinbelitz]

Southwest Airlines is proud to celebrate Women’s History Month. We are passionate about empowering women all year long. Below is a post by Captain Nancy Martin-Belitz about how she empowers youth, and how she inspires those in her community. 

Nancy in a Fall Travel Ad

Amelia Earhart tells us the most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.  You can do anything you decide to do.  Growing up, my father's business was next to the airport where I spent much of my time.  I was deeply intrigued by the planes that flew overhead and knew that someday I wanted to join the ranks in the sky. As I worked towards my dream job, my love for flying intensified; this propelled my motivation to accomplish what I had set out to achieve. Although flying is my passion, I also enjoy mentoring. I am grateful for Adopt-A-Pilot giving me the opportunity to fulfill this role.  Not all of the students I mentor will go on to become pilots, so I try to emphasize the most important lesson of them all, being a good person with strong core values. I try to instill honesty and kindness in the hearts of the children I meet, hoping they will see the importance of open-mindedness and how it can affect their future.  With unwavering tenacity and perseverance, they can achieve any career goal that they set their mind to. My favorite thing about Adopt-A-Pilot is seeing the impact this program has on the children.  I love returning to the schools, where my former students share stories about how the program has influenced their paths.  One meaningful moment was walking through the airport, where I ran into another female pilot that flies for a regional airline.  She told me that I had taught her 5^th grade class through Adopt-A-Pilot. I tell others to chase their dream, knowing that it is not out of the question, and always attainable, you just have to first make the decision to act upon it.  I say this; because it is something I did myself. Nancy Martin-Belitz has been an integral part of Southwest Airlines’ Adopt-A-Pilot program since 1997.