It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Taryn White! As she soars to Western Michigan University next fall, White will continue pursuing her interest in flight as she travels across the country to Western Michigan University, where she will major in Aviation Flight Science. White is currently working towards her private pilots license after having taken flight lessons for two years and working through ground school.
“I have a lot of family who are into aviation; I have some family members who are in the Air Force, my grandpa and my uncle, and my dad has his private pilot license, as do my cousins,” White said.
In her free time, White is hardly still as she partakes in an extensive list of active extracurriculars.
“I do a lot of hiking and spend a lot of time outdoors.” White said, “I love to exercise, whether it’s swimming, rock climbing, or running.”
Fittingly, at Claremont High School (CHS), White was on the varsity swim team for three years, and the cross country and track teams for one. On campus, White was also a part of Interact, and was known for her delectable baking, which she was often generous enough to share with her friends.
White also developed a love for physics during her time at Claremont High School. She recalls one of her favorite high school memories: when her advanced physics class got to teach a lesson of their choosing to local elementary school students.
“My Physics C (Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism) project was with students at Sycamore,” White said. “I taught a lesson on magnetic slime with some of my friends, and it was really fun.”
After completing CHS’ AP Physics C class, she went on to take a course on special relativity at Harvey Mudd.
“It was really an eye opening class, I recommend everybody tries to take it,” said White.
In the coming years White would like to eventually become a commercial pilot, ideally for a major airline. Once hopefully receiving her private pilot’s license in June, White is excited to travel and broaden her horizons through flight. She looks forward to the freedom that a private pilots license brings.
White departs CHS with gratitude for everyone who made her time on campus special, one in particular being Mr. Carillo.
“[Shoutout to Mr. Carillo] For inspiring me to try my best and for fueling my passion for physics.” White would like to leave a final piece of advice for underclassmen.
“Try to make your senior year full of every memory, go out and try everything you can.”
