{ PREMIER ISSUE 2018 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE
111
and cursing and everything, that’ s stuff that we hadn’ t been accustomed to.
My first night, they came back for me and I was in tears. I said,“ Don’ t bring me back here. Don’ t bring me back here, I don’ t want to come.” They took me home. They said,“ Look, calm down. Just give it another try, and if you don’ t like it, you’ ll never have to go back.” I went back the next week, and I never looked back. It was the best six years of my life, and I learned so much from it, and came out of my shell because of it. Nobody believes me, but I’ m very introverted. That was another thing, but when the flying thing came up, they were like,“ Yeah, go ahead. Whatever it’ s going to take. Whatever you want to do, we’ re going to support you.” They pushed me for sure.
Kharisma: What would you say to parents?
Shana: I would say 100 % go for it. I think a lot of people are afraid of what they don’ t know about. Obviously, as a parent, you’ re coming from another generation, where you may not have seen or had an appreciation for what this generation has. The first thing is research it. Research what your child is interested in. Then it makes it easier for you to support and be a part of it. I think support definitely, but research it.
Kharisma: Awesome, awesome. That’ s some good advice, parents out there. Always encourage, research as well, and don’ t discourage them. I believe in purpose. I believe that we all have a sole purpose; we have a life purpose, and that shows up in different ways. Do you believe that you becoming a pilot was part of your purpose-driven plan?
Shana: I think not initially, but I think that it has kind of woven its way and brought me on different paths to different learning experiences and life experiences, that are necessary to get me to my purpose. I think it’ s definitely integral in taking on that.
Kharisma: Always be purpose-driven and be in alignment to purpose. What has been the reaction to you being a female pilot? First, within your organization, the airline that you fly is what organization?
Shana: The name of the company I fly for is SVG Air, part of an Air Alliance. Generally speaking, it’ s been good. I came in a little naïve at the very beginning, bright-eyed and bushy tailed. As the years have gone on, I’ ve noticed that certain things have come up that probably had to do with my gender, but I have to say, by and large, especially from the training aspect, I haven’ t had any issues. It’ s more, I think the public, that’ s really shocked, especially the West Indian public is really shocked. My gender is not something that they see, and neither is my stature. A lot of people don’ t even think I look old enough to be doing this. I think a lot of them it’ s, most people are really proud and really like,“ Oh my goodness. You go, Girl. It’ s so good.” A lot of people, there’ s a few people that say,“ If I saw somebody your size on a plane, I wouldn’ t get on the plane.” To be honest, my attitude is,“ Well, just come off, because the plane will still leave you. It’ ll still go without you, so you have a choice.”
Kharisma: And she’ s spunky too, ladies and gentlemen.
Shana: I think people don’ t mean by it, but sometimes there’ s some comments that just don’ t sit well with me.
Kharisma: Right, gets under the skin. Shana: Yes.
Kharisma: Right, I can understand. It’ s one thing to see a female pilot, but another thing to see a black, female pilot. Let’ s call it as it is. Let’ s address the elephant in the room, okay folks? That’ s what we’ re going to do right now.
Shana: Actually, because of where I work, that’ s not such an issue. My company is based in St. Vincent, but I live in Barbados. You’ re still around a majority black population, so that’ s not something I really have to worry about. The main issue is the gender and my size, because I don’ t look anything close to my age, which apparently is an issue. The colour issue is not something I really have to deal with.
Kharisma: Okay. You’ re the only female pilot within your organization.
Shana: The only one.
Kharisma: The only one, ladies and gentlemen. The only female pilot in her organization.
Shana: Yes.
Kharisma: I believe I’ m a pioneer. I’ m a trailblazer. We go ahead and we create paths and make waves for others to follow. Do you believe that you are a trailblazer?
Shana: I think I am, just because I’ ve heard that so many times in my life. It makes sense to me, but I never thought of myself