At first glance, flying an airplane and writing a novella may seem like two very different pursuits. For 15-year-old Jenny Luu of Vancouver, they are closely connected.
Both allow her to explore unfamiliar places, consider new perspectives and turn experiences into stories.
Jenny, an incoming 10th grade student enrolled at Washington Virtual Academies (WAVA), is also a student pilot, a Civil Air Patrol cadet and an aspiring author. She recently completed an unpublished novella and hopes to pursue both aviation and writing as she continues discovering where her interests may lead.
“My interest in aviation and travel has opened me up to so many new places and ideas, which has also influenced my writing,” Jenny said.
Her interest in flying grew through Civil Air Patrol, a volunteer organization and U.S. Air Force auxiliary that introduces young people to aviation, leadership, service and emergency response. Jenny joined as an eighth grader and found opportunities that challenged her while helping her become more confident.
One particularly formative experience was an eight-day Civil Air Patrol encampment structured around demanding schedules, physical challenges and close attention to detail. The experience required perseverance, especially during long days when participants were tired and still expected to complete each assignment.
“Quitting wasn’t an option,” Jenny said. “Progress depended on continuing forward, step by step.”
That lesson has stayed with her as she has pursued flight training. She is now working toward becoming a pilot and has participated in several flights, with additional glider experiences planned. Gliding is especially dependent on weather conditions, so flight schedules can change quickly, but Jenny looks forward to every opportunity to get into the air.
Flying gives her more than technical experience. It also feeds her imagination.
“To me, flying is a way of experiencing stories through new places, opportunities and emotions,” she said. “Through writing, I preserve and reshape those experiences into fiction.”
Jenny recently finished a novella titled “Finding North.” Set in an isolated area of Alaska, the story follows a teenager named Elias, who is grieving the loss of his older brother, Caleb. Elias’ life changes when a mysterious 7-year-old boy named North appears at the gas station where he works. As the two become closer, Elias discovers that North is connected to Caleb in an unexpected way.
Jenny hopes to publish the book someday. She also wants her experience to encourage other young people who have interests that may not fit neatly into a single category.
A student can be interested in aviation and literature. A future pilot can also be a fiction writer. Jenny believes seemingly unrelated interests can influence one another and help a young person find a meaningful direction.
Supporting those interests requires time, discipline and an educational environment that can accommodate experiences beyond a traditional classroom schedule.
Jenny’s family began exploring online public school after determining that a conventional school day did not align well with her expanding interests and commitments. Online learning gives her the ability to complete a structured public school curriculum while having more control over when and where she works.
That flexibility does not make the academic work less demanding. Instead, it requires students to manage their time, remain accountable and take greater ownership of their education. For Jenny, the independence she has developed through Civil Air Patrol and flight training carries into the way she approaches school.
The format also gives her room to pursue experiences that cannot always be scheduled after the final bell. Aviation activities, training opportunities and travel may occur during a traditional school day or require significant preparation. With online public school, Jenny can plan her coursework around those opportunities while continuing to make academic progress.
Her experience reflects one reason some families choose online public education. Students may have intensive athletic, artistic, professional or service commitments. Others may learn more effectively outside a traditional classroom or need a school day that can adapt to family circumstances.
For students like Jenny, flexibility creates space to explore without separating education from the rest of life.
Jenny is still considering what her future might look like. She is interested in aviation, biomedical engineering and healthcare, and she is developing ideas that combine leadership, creativity and service. She also wants to continue writing and eventually publish her work.
She does not feel pressure to narrow those possibilities yet.
For now, she is learning in the classroom, in the cockpit and on the page. Each experience is helping her build confidence and better understand how her interests connect.
Her path offers a reminder that education can take many forms. When students have access to a learning environment that recognizes their goals and gives them room to pursue them, they can develop skills far beyond any single subject.
For Jenny, that means continuing to fly, continuing to write and remaining open to where both may take her next.
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Hailey Chamberlain is a community engagement specialist at Washington Virtual Academies. Washington Virtual Academies offers a full-time, tuition-free online education for K-12th grade students statewide. Learn more at wava.k12.com.
