41. AFF Instructor Rating- Zephyrhills, FL

So guys, I DID IT!!! I got my AFF instructor rating- I can now teach YOU to skydive! Read between photos.

Never ever ever ever did I imagine back in February when I started traveling- or ever- did I think I'd get my AFF instructor rating. Through traveling this year, seeing so many passionate instructors, especially the female ones, I started manifesting the dream to get my AFF rating. People had described how difficult it was- "I've been to engineering school, fought in many wars and AFFI is the hardest thing I have done." It became my whole goal to pass the course and start teaching. With this rating, I could teach anyone how to become a solo skydiver- yes Mom, even my sister! ;)

Skydive Ratings is known as the one of the top rating schools in the world- one where Ivan works - so this was naturally the place to go. Our deal was he would be on no evaluation jumps with me- talk about relationship problems if he had to fail me.

Ivan picked me up at the Orlando airport on a Thursday night- with flowers in hand. The flowers had so many buds and they kept blooming all week. We rented a RV at the dropzone for the week- okay, a tiny camper!- when we arrived he had put all of my favorite foods in the fridge- making me immediately feel comfortable. As he showed me around the dropzone that night, the energy there felt so good and I felt at home.

Friday was an adjusting day- we went to train at the Tampa tunnel, stocked up with food at Trader Joe's and settled into the dropzone. Then Saturday morning, GAME ON! 6 am run, shower, smoothie, class time.

There were 5 of us in the class- 3 from Denver and 1 from NC. Side note: we all passed!!

Those 6 days were such a mental game- to stay calm, believe in myself, take each jump, each class one step at a time. We had to pass 3 out of 4 evaluation jumps, with 7 practice jumps leading up to that. We quickly realized the practice jumps were practically pass/fail too. We were learning to save students in the sky- including the most out of control students. Equally challenging was learning how to teach, learning the lesson plans.

I had mentally prepared for this class for months and preplanned my routine to keep me centered. It included a morning run, health smoothie, healthy meals, no alcohol and deep breaths. It worked!

I ended up LOVING the class. I grew so much as a skydiver and person and loved the challenge. More than ever, I learned to trust myself, believe in myself, believe in my flying, stick to my rhythms and take challenge head on. With so much money and future plans on the line, I successfully blocked out those risks and just went for it full force. Previously wanting the rating as an accomplishment, I realized hey, I really love this, I do want to teach!!!

Thank you Ivan for all of your help, pushing me extra hard and believing in me all the way. I am so grateful to learn from the very best. Thank you to Skydive Ratings. Thank you Mom, Dad and Carly for believing in me for this- like always <3

Life has crazy ways with where this rating would take me...!

Megan, Austin, Dom, Beau you guys are amazing! I'm super grateful for the experience with you guys and hope some day I get to do some AFF jumps with you.