For many college students and student-athletes there comes a time in their junior or senior year where they have to start to decide 'what's next' after their college careers are over. For some, the thought is to turn professional in their sport, while for others it's time to land their first job. It can be extremely stressful until one figures that out, but for Georgia State senior women's golfer Courtney Lewis, the next chapter of her life came to her some time ago and she plans to keep at it when the time is right.

Simply put, Lewis wants to be a pilot and she isn't waiting to have a degree in hand to making that a reality. Along with working on her golf game, which is pretty good too – she qualified in the No. 2 spot for this week's dual match with Dayton – Lewis is well on her way to taking to the skies.

"As of right now I am training for my private pilot's license," Lewis said. "I am about 20 hours in right now and I will probably need between 50 and 60 to get my license. I think in a few lessons I will have my first solo which is pretty exciting. I am still going through the basics of being safe, landings, and paying attention to the other planes in the sky."

Lewis started to realize the dream at a young age and has stuck to it ever since.

"I remember the first time I went on an airplane was to Austin, Texas to visit my uncle," Lewis said. "I was pretty young and although a lot of young kids are afraid to fly, I was excited. When I was looking out the window, I really enjoyed being up in the sky.

"For a while I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but the longer I have been in college the more I realize I don't want to be in school anymore (said with a smile). I started to wonder what else I would really enjoy doing and I really want to travel. I believe with a lot of jobs, it is really hard to travel as much as I would want to. I haven't been able to travel many places throughout my life, but I like flying and I like being in a plane, so why don't I just do that. It has become my main motivator for flying."

For Lewis, who calls Newnan, Ga., home, it might be made even easier by the fact that the world's business airport is just a short 30-minute drive north on I-85.

"My ultimate long-term goal would be able to fly internationally for a big airline like Delta," Lewis said. "Ultimately, I would like to be able to set my own schedule, pick the places I want to go, that way if I fly somewhere, I can stay for a night or two. Then when I decide to take vacations, I'll have a better idea as to where I want to spend some time."

For now, Lewis is focused on helping the women's golf team get through a successful spring, but she already has the next chapter ready to go, even if the COVID-19 pandemic causes a little delay.

"I'm considering going into the Air Force next," Lewis said. "The problem right now is that COVID has backed things up so far that people might be waiting for four years to get into the Air Force. So, at the moment, I'll find a job when I graduate with my degree in economics. I'll find something to live on while I am waiting as I know this is what I want to do. If you work at Delta for three years, they actually have a program where they will teach you to fly. That would be spectacular if that could happen."

With her goals in mind, in a few years' time, the Georgia State women's golf team might be getting ready to fly to an event and will be greeted by a friendly GSU alum smile as they board the plane. At that point, things would definitely have come full circle for this golfer turned pilot.

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