As anyone who knows me is well aware, it has long been my dream to fly. I've loved airplanes since I was a little kid. I first started to suspect I might need glasses in fifth grade when I realized that I could no longer focus clearly on the airplanes that I'd gaze at when they passed overhead.

When I was 15, my father took me to the small airport in San Juan to have a demo flight lesson. That cemented it — I was determined to get my pilot's license. I despaired over the several-thousand-dollar cost, but I was willing to set aside my puny allowance each week to do it.

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