Akshita Jain (she/her) is currently pursuing Bachelor’s of Commerce at the University of Calgary. She graduated with High Honors in all four high school years from Evan Hardy Collegiate in Saskatoon, SK. Besides Akshita outstanding grades, her has been a prominent leader and community member.
Akshita has volunteered over 150 hours with the YMCA Community Action Network (YCAN) alongside youth from all of Canada to bring crucial social change. At school, she was involved in important leadership positions on the SRC (Student Representative Council), which was dedicated to representing the students and their concerns. As International Director, she organized cultural activities and helped immigrants, ensuring they were integrated and included. Her work established strong relations within the school. Akshita’s volunteering extends beyond the school into volunteer work at the Global Gathering Place and the International Women of Saskatoon. She has even ventured into teaching computer literacy and English to newcomers.
Akshita was also a volunteer for the Youth Leadership Initiative and RCMP Saskatchewan Multicultural Youth Program with the goal of building relationships and solving social problems. This leadership approach of hers can be seen by her participation in the 2023 Youth Summit for Conservative and Environmental Leadership, where she learned about environmental sustainability. All these achievements speak volumes about her dedication, self-discipline, and perseverance to excel in every area of life.
It was a deliberate decision to migrate to Calgary to pursue opportunities in a city and university that believe in leadership, innovation, and growth. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance with the support of an $80,000 scholarship as an Ena Lee Leaders in Business scholar.
How did you learn about the Cadet Program? Why did you apply? Why did you choose Air Cadets specifically?
When my family and I first moved to Canada, we lived in the downtown area of Saskatoon. One day while walking around the neighborhood, we just happened to spot an advertisement for the Air Cadet Program. My curiosity got the better of me, and since I was always fascinated with airplanes, I decided to explore.
I have had an interest in aviation my entire life. Growing up in India, I was greatly fascinated with the incredible work of ISRO — the Indian Space Research Organization. I tracked their missions, rocket launches, and clipped out newspaper headlines on their success.
This fascination with aviation and aerospace only grew each year. Upon learning that the Air Cadet Program consisted of hands-on aviation activities combined with leadership and teamwork, I knew I had to try it. It was a risk-free method of trying new things with my existing interests without venturing too far from home, and in the process, meet new friends as well. Turning out to be an Air Cadet was a great decision — one which not only served to fuel my interest in aviation but also to allowed me to hone my leadership and team work skills.
How long were you in the program for? About Air Cadets, what were the highlights or memorable moments?
I was a member of the Air Cadet Program for six memorable and worthwhile years, and those were some seriously worthwhile years. One such memory is earning my Power Pilot License in seven weeks, thanks to an extremely competitive $25,000 Royal Canadian Air Cadets scholarship. The other peak moment was a visit to an exchange program to the United States, where I had the highest honor of interacting with the cadets from seven countries. Not only did we learn about air force from one another, but we also exchanged our cultures.
Being awarded the Cadet Medal of Excellence, Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (2023), and a Regional Marksmanship Medal was rewarding. However, the greatest reward of all was the sense of belonging and feeling of being important that I gained through the program. Being a Correspondent for 702 Lynx Squadron and a member of the Cadet National Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Groups allowed me to aid equity and inclusivity — two matters that are near and dear to my heart. Looking back, those six years fundamentally shaped me, teaching me leadership, self-assurance, and long-lasting friendships.
Describe the process of applying to the Power Pilot Scholarship Program. As a participant, what was the experience like? What advice would you give to future applicants?
You would have to join the Air Cadet Program around 12 years old and maintain a strong portfolio throughout. This means parade nights, leadership, volunteering, and extracurricular groups such as drill, band, marksmanship, or robotics, to participate in outside of class. Going to summer camp is also important, as this shows that you are committed to learning and skills development within the program.
Once you have attained Level 3 and Grade 10, you can begin ground school online, which covers significant aviation theory such as air law, navigation, meteorology, and flight principles. You must then write a test on the material. Success, along with satisfactory extracurricular activity reports, will earn you an interview with your provincial committee. It is a chance to highlight leadership potential, work ethic, and flying enthusiasm.
If you are accepted, you will attend seven weeks at a summer camp where you will be intensively trained to become a licensed Power Pilot. It is tough going — the days are long, and you will need to work hard to cram in your flying and academic requirements designated by the Cadet Program. It requires focus, discipline, and strong work ethic to pack flight school with studying.
Overall, it is a great experience. You are among peers who are exactly the same age as you and who love flying as much as you do, so those long hours pass by. The camaraderie you gain along with the experience of flying and being taught make the seven weeks tough, but worth it. Though the experience is challenging, there is a sense of achievement at the end of it all — earning your wings and knowing you have pushed yourself.
How can people connect with you?
I can be reached via email at jain_akshita@icloud.com or through my Instagram handle: @jainxakshita.