For this assignment, I decided to interview my Dad, Kent Harrison, who is one of my biggest role models and a constant source of guidance for me. He was born in Zanesville, Ohio, and later attended Hillsdale College in Michigan, where he played both tennis and soccer, which he said helped him balance responsibilities. After college, he moved to Miami and eventually started his own printing business. With his business still based in Miami, my Dad was constantly traveling back and forth, which led him to get his private pilot license. Flying gave him the ability to travel between Georgia and South Florida more efficiently, and it became an interesting hobby that he loved sharing with me.

When I asked him about something difficult he had been forced to overcome, one story stood out immediately. During a flight from St. Simons Island to Miami, his engine failed shortly after takeoff. He had only made it about 500 feet into the air before he was forced to ground the plane. Since there wasn’t enough runway left to glide safely before a busy road, he was forced to make a split-second, life-altering decision. Rather than risk crashing into cars on Kings Way, he steered the plane off the runway and into a drainage ditch. Fortunately, he walked away from the crash unscathed, but the airplane was a total loss.

Looking back on this life changing incident, what really stood out to me was my Dad’s calmness and positivity during and after the incident. It wasn’t scary or anger provoking he said but a reminder of how fast life can change, how important it is to stay calm when things go wrong and to live life with no regrets.

“The crash made me realize the value of life, family and the opportunities ahead,” said my Dad. His outlook comes from knowing that even when something goes wrong, you can respond with composure and grace, which is a lesson that I take with me every day. When reflecting on our biggest role models, it is important to appreciate the way that they impact your life. However, I enjoyed getting to hear what made my Dad who he has become and how the impactful moments he encountered led to a shift in his mindset, and I encourage everyone to talk to their biggest role models too.

News Article: https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/engine-conks-on-takeoff-at-st-simons-pilot-ok/article_fe267ac1-ceae-50ca-8f4f-abf43e8e4a03.html

Plane: https://cirrusaircraft.com/aircraft/sr-series/

Hillsdale College: https://hillsdalechargers.com/