Taylor Hess: Aiming for the Sky

Taylor Hess has her head in the clouds - literally and figuratively. As a future pilot and aspiring fiction writer, she is carving her own path and setting herself up for a dual career that is all her own. At Saint Francis, Taylor has found a place where both her determination to fly and her passion for creative writing can flourish.

A sophomore English major, Taylor refuses to limit herself to just one interest, goal, or career. Whether she is taking online flight classes, working on her fantasy novel, traveling with family, or advocating for animals and environmental conservation, she seeks purpose and pleasure in everything she does.

Take Off

Growing up in Johnstown, Taylor watched her best friend's dad charter flights for celebrities like Ed Sheeran and the band Journey. The infrequency and spontaneity of his work, coupled with his free time to pursue other hobbies, inspired her to become a pilot herself.

"That's my dream job - I want to be a pilot and fly and write in my free time," Taylor said. "Being a pilot is a really good job, and there are a lot of benefits."

Through the program with Nulton Aviation, she plans to complete two of the four required licenses by graduation before finishing flight school as a working professional.

"Every pilot will say, 'get a degree first and then do flight school so you'll always have a degree if something happens and you can't fly,'" Taylor said. "So, I'm going to finish it up after school. I need a job that supports me while I do the flight training."

Writing her Story

While being a pilot is her focus, Taylor still wants to earn a degree in a subject she is passionate about. With an interest in publishing and her own fantasy novel in the works since she was 14, Taylor is using her studies as a creative outlet.

"I've been working on a book series for five years now," Taylor said. "I'm writing it to get it out of my system and to get it out there. I love the idea of putting it out there for people to read even if it's not big."

Taylor began her freshman year as an Aquarium & Zoo Sciences major, a subject she has always loved, yet she quickly realized she needed a field of study that offered more opportunities for creative expression.

"I love the sciences, but I'm a very creative person," Taylor said. "Writing is what keeps me excited and passionate. I've also always had a passion for animals and conservation, so I'm hoping that through writing, I can shine a light on it in a different way."

As she enters her second year at Saint Francis, Taylor is looking forward to taking classes in novel writing and editing and hopes to complete an independent study centered on a creative writing project. She plans to join both the Literary Club and the staff of the student newspaper, The Troubadour, while also submitting her writing for various awards, honors, and publications on and off campus.

Exploring Campus and the World

For Taylor, her time at Saint Francis is about exploring various fields of study and diversifying herself across industries. She has big plans for her future and is dedicated to achieving each goal along the way.

She is a member of the Environmental Action Society and has helped care for the coral tanks in the Science Center. She is also a referee for intramural basketball and volleyball on campus.

"There are so many clubs to be involved in and so many activities on the weekends," Taylor said. "You can try so many different things here and have so many different interests here."

While off campus, Taylor loves to travel, which is one of her many motivators for her aviation aspirations. Over the summer, she spends weeks with family in California, hiking in the north and beaching in the south, and she hopes to live there herself one day.

As a student, Taylor also wants to take advantage of at least one of the University's study abroad opportunities, including the 4-week summer program in Lille, France. With so much ambition and so much to explore, Taylor is fueled by passion and hard work. At Saint Francis, she found a place where her goals and interests could intersect.

"I want to see and do everything," Taylor said. "Mostly what I think about is flying, writing, and travel."

The Power of "And"

At Saint Francis University, we encourage our students to embrace the power of "and." Every new skill, talent, and challenge they explore here under guidance builds a foundation for something greater. It's through blending passions, disciplines, and experiences that they become someone they are uniquely called to be.

Find your "and" at Saint Francis University:

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