It all started as a love for planes and aviation. Junior Chase McBride is working on his fighter pilot’s license.
“I love planes since like the fourth or fifth grade,” McBride said. “I’ve been into planes and aviation and just how they work.”
Despite this, he’s never rode on a plane.
“I just have never gotten a chance to fly or be on a plane,” McBride said.
It will be a few more years until McBride gets the opportunity.
“It will probably be one of the most exciting times,” he said.
After high school through college, he plans on going to officer training.
“To be a pilot in the Air Force, you have to be an officer, which you have to go through four years of,” he said.
In addition, he needs two more years of training; regardless he’s enthusiastic about his career choice.
“I’m very patriotic,” McBride said. “I’m willing to give my life up for my country. It’s something I care about.”
McBride hopes to serve in the military after high school.
“[I will] serve my term as fighter pilot and then if I can, be a pilot rescue,” he said. “If that doesn’t work out I’ve looked into being a private pilot and gunsmith.”
His parents are content about his choice and support him fully.
“I’ll be sad. I love them but they’ll be just as excited as me,” he said. “We’ll always be close.”
McBride intends for this career to leave a legacy in the lives of others.
“When I die old, I don’t want to say I’ve done nothing with my life,” he said. “I want to say I’ve put an effort to do something that can make a difference to people, even though at the same time they don’t know that I’m doing it.”