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eLaina Yancey has her head in the clouds—literally. She began taking flying lessons last year, and now the Cornelius teen is well on her way to earning her pilot’s license. She recently completed certification for taking off and landing a plane, a skill she mastered before she earned a license to drive a car. The daughter of Daniel and Diana Yancey, DeLaina’s passion for aircraft began when she found herself on board them quite a bit as she journeyed across the globe for Irish dancing competitions. After seeing a local troupe perform, DeLaina joined an international Irish dance school at the age of 3. By age 7, she was quite the globe trotter, traveling throughout the United States, as well as to Europe and Canada. “I fell in love with the huge airliners while traveling,” DeLaina remembers. “They fascinated me as much as the destination and gave me the aviation bug.” DeLaina takes weekly lessons at the Amos Aviation School, typically in a sports cruiser. Each lesson lasts between an hour and a half and two hours, and she already has collected eight hours of the 20 required to test for her license. “I was a little nervous at first,” DeLaina says, “but very determined to learn.” Though it can be scary to be at the helm of such a powerful machine, DeLaina doesn’t let that dissuade her. She hopes that by stepping
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22 LKN
| JUNE 2017
out of her own comfort zone, she can embolden others: “I hope to encourage other girls to fly and to show them that being a woman does not have to stop you from working in a male-dominant field!” Juggling flying lessons with being a Community School of Davidson sophomore—one who also plays on the varsity volleyball and basketball teams, dances, is a Young Elites ambassador, and who volunteers at the Alzheimer’s patient unit at The Pines at Davidson as well as at other organizations—is a challenge, DeLaina admits. However, she manages it all pretty well by practicing the organizational and prioritizing skills she has learned from her mom: “Anyone can do what I do; they just have to have drive and motivation … and a mom like mine. She is my rock, and I am thankful every day for her.” DeLaina is also thankful for her best friend, Olivia, who helps her get her head out of the clouds from time to time and plant her feet firmly on the carefree ground of just being a teenager. “When we’re together we have so much fun,” she says. “Our typical day together can start with a Nerf gun war, then a walk through Davidson, then dinner and a movie.” DeLaina also has her volunteer work to keep her grounded. She finds her time with Alzheimer’s patients to be particularly meaningful. “Even the smallest thing can make a positive impact,” she notes. “A smile or a hug can make their day. If you have one person who has a great heart and is kind, it makes all the difference.” By: Dana Nieters