Carolyn Harris

My life has been heavily influenced by my father’s career as a Naval aviator. Moving around the United States was often daunting, but it also made me much more confident in entering new situations and creating connections with people. I grew social skills that I might not have developed otherwise because of the Navy’s effect on my life. Watching my father serve his country as a Naval aviator also instilled a strong sense of service and hard work in me as it showed me how important and meaningful it is to dedicate yourself to others each day. His example and the examples of others in the community provided an excellent template for how to live one’s life in service to others. The growth I experienced and the important examples I witnessed as the daughter of a Naval aviator are what have inspired me to pursue a career as a pediatric speech-language pathologist. I look forward to creating invaluable connections with children and supporting them as they grow the communication skills they need to succeed. I am immensely grateful for the community of naval aviation, as it has helped me to become the person I am today. I am also so thankful for these scholarships as they will help me pursue my undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and a future master’s degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Science. With these scholarships, I will be better equipped to go out into the world and serve others, following the example of my father and other Naval aviators.