ResourcesAround the World and Now in Colorado
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He’s been around the world and is now in Colorado. Aurora Public Schools students learned about aviation from 23-year-old Barrington Irving who holds two world records. Irving is the first person of African descent and the youngest person ever to fly solo around the globe.
Irving grew up in inner-city Miami, Florida. While working in his parents’ bookstore as a teenager, Irving met a pilot who invited him to the airport to see the cockpit of a Boeing 777. That day changed Irving’s life forever.
“I started off washing planes and look where I am today. I flew a $600,000 airplane around the world. You kids have the opportunity to get a good education and do something with your life. The only person who can stop you from achieving your dreams is yourself.”
- Barrington Irving
Pilot and world-record holder
Hundreds of APS students met the pilot on October 9.
“I thought he was very inspiring,” said Marrisa A., Murphy Creek K-8 eighth grade student. “You can have the confidence to do what you want to do.”
Irving set two world records when he landed in Miami on June 27. He logged 90 days and 19,656 miles during his journey. Irving says his goal in completing the mission was to inspire and motivate young people to set goals and capture their dreams.
“I was impressed with how hard he had to work to do what he did. If you work hard and do well in school, you can do whatever you want to.”
- Murphy Creek K-8 seventh grader
APS students learned about Irving’s accomplishments. They also climbed into the cockpits of vintage planes, tried flying with the help of a computer simulator and learned about careers in aviation.
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