Working outside of perceptions
Rachel Adams pilots airplanes. Once, her small Cessna 152 hit a spot of dead air on approach to St. George’s airport.
“The plane just dropped,” she said.
Her plane fell so violently it lifted her off the seat and her head hit the cockpit roof.
“It set off my E.L.T. (emergency locator transmitter),” she said. “Maybe five or 10 seconds later and I would’ve hit the ground.”
It’s all in a day’s work for Adams, a sophomore in the aviation program at USU.
Adams is double majoring in the professional pilot and aviation mechanic programs. Every day she said she comes to class at the Technology building near the Merrill-Cazier Library, a huge open workshop where a full-sized airplane dominates the floor. Scattered around the building are various propellers and jet engines. Metal working tools like lathes and welders and grinders are set up on the south end of the huge classroom.
In a field dominated by men, Adams’ confidence comes from the fact that she’s been around airplanes her whole life. Adams said she grew up in St. George, where her father is an airplane mechanic and a pilot. He has flown dangerous jobs to fight fires, flying a twin-engined commander plane, Adams said. Her father taught her to use hand tools while she helped him as he worked on airplanes, she said.
Adams learned to fly when she was young. She soloed on her 16th birthday and earned her private pilot’s license the day after turning 17, she said.
After graduating high school Adams came directly to USU and said she’s no different, just “one of the guys.” When working with tools she has an advantage because her “girl-hands” can work in spaces that man-hands couldn’t fit into, besides being ambidextrous, she said.
When working on engines, Adams said it’s an asset to be able to use either her right or left hand depending on the situation.
“I don’t mind having greasy hands, and it doesn’t bother me to wander around all day in a dirty shirt,” she said.
Adams said she would like to open a pilot and maintenance school after graduation, perhaps in Oregon.
“People say I’m crazy, but I enjoy it,” Adams said.
Kurt Leikis is a junior majoring in interior design. He’s one of only three males in a class of 60 interior design students. Leikis said he took an elective class in high school on architecture and had such a good time he decided to become an architect.
Eventually, however, he decided that architecture was too structured and became an interior design major.
“I’ve always been artistic,” Leikis said. “Interior design lets me use my creative side more.”
Interior design is often thought of as a woman’s job. Leikis said he often has to clarify the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator.
“Anyone can call themselves an interior decorator if they think they’re good at it. Interior design is more rigorous. There’s a whole lot of work involved,” Leikis said.
Leikis said the interior design program is stressful and demanding.
“I’ve spent countless hours and many sleepless nights getting projects done,” he said.
Leikis said he gets harassed by friends and coworkers sometimes, but that he doesn’t let it bother him.
“I’ve got a pretty thick skin,” he said. “I’m pretty good at letting it roll off my back.”
Leikis said being one of the only men in his class isn’t a big deal. He said the women in his class are all supportive and make the school environment easy to work in.
“We are a creative group, he said.
–brendon.butler@aggiemail.usu.edu