A Mentee at the Davidson Initiative Takes First Flight

29 August 2020 - Kasey Mintz

From his memories of listening to his uncle talk about the time he spent in Vietnam while fighting for his country in the Air Force to when he first piloted a plane for the first-time, aviation has been very much a family affair for Daeshawn Carter.

Carter (right) just about to go on his first flight with his mentor, Ocalia (left).

Carter said he would sit with his uncle and listen to him fondly recount stories of when he flew planes for the armed forces, and those stories played a huge role in him deciding to pursue studies in the field of aviation.

“He definitely made me look at aviation and piloting differently, because it was in my blood,” Carter said.

But as many in the aviation field know, one does not just decide to become a pilot. They must have the right support system, and that can sometimes be hard to find.

But there was a life-saving tool for Carter, and it has opened doors that were previously closed. That tool? The Davidson Initiative.

The Davidson Initiative is a nonprofit, established in March 2020, to support students and aspiring professionals in the aviation community; giving them the necessary instruments required to achieve academic success and to smoothly transition into the industry.

Six months after Cater had decided to go the aviation route, he was referred to the founder of the Davidson Initiative, Davidson Nzekwe-Daniel.

“They have helped shape my dream into a reality,” Carter said.

After Carter talked with the founder, he enrolled in the mentoring program (pilot track) of the Davidson Initiative where he was paired with a mentor, Jonathan Ocalia. Ocalia is a pilot and doubles as a certified flight instructor at the Davidson Initiative.

“I told him my story and I was able to give him advice on schools and the financials,” Ocalia said.

Kennia Beauburn, Co-Chief of Staff of the mentoring program of the Davidson Initiative said, “Carter’s drive and passion help him go above and beyond.”

Carter told Ocalia that he would like to experience flying an airplane and since Ocalia is a flight instructor at the Initiative, he was able to make this possible.

Just before the flight, Carter remembers being locked in and ready to learn all he needed to during the flight briefing.

Carter’s wife was with him in the pilot’s lounge as he prepared to pilot a plane for the first time. They had not planned to take her on the flight because there was no headset for her, then a pleasant surprise presented itself.

“We realized she couldn’t come because we didn’t have a headset for her, then another pilot asked if we wanted to borrow one of his headsets.” Carter said, “It was a miracle.”

While this was a joyful wrinkle, this puts even more pressure on Carter, but all those stories that his uncle had told him made him have a realization.

“In that situation, it was almost like I knew what to do.” Carter said, “It was like it was in my blood.”

Carter (left) performing ariel maneuver with a Cessna 172 airplane once airborne.

Once in the air, Carter said that it was one of the most blissful and one of the greatest experiences of his life and he is extremely grateful to the Davidson Initiative because without them this would have never been possible.

Carter signed up to start his aviation training at Broward College this fall, and he has some advice to anyone with a dream.

“Do it now, forget every reason you think of to not do it.” Carter said, “You have to just do it.”   

ABOUT DAVIDSON INITIATIVE

The Davidson Initiative is a nonprofit organization charged with the mission of providing support for students and aspiring professionals in the aviation industry and equipping them with the necessary instruments required to achieve academic success and to smoothly transition into the workforce. The organization is also working to build the future of aviation by inspiring the younger generation to pursue careers in aviation. For more information, visit www.davidsoninitiative.org