More than two decades ago, Southwest Airlines Captain Greg visited a 5th grade classroom in California as part of the airline’s Adopt-A-Pilot Program, an initiative designed to introduce young students to the world of aviation. Among the students sitting in that classroom was a young boy named Carlo, whose life would be changed forever by that visit.
Inspired by Captain Greg’s story and passion for flying, Carlo decided that day he wanted to become a pilot. He later pursued an aviation degree at San José State University, the same university Captain Greg had attended years earlier. Carlo went on to earn his pilot certifications, work as a flight instructor, and eventually secure a position as a pilot with Southwest Airlines.
Twenty-one years after their first meeting, Carlo stepped into the cockpit of a Boeing 737 for his very first trip as a Southwest pilot alongside the man who inspired his dream. Captain Greg occupied the left seat during the flight, which took place just weeks before his retirement from the airline.
During the flight, Carlo showed Captain Greg a special keepsake — the same yellow Adopt-A-Pilot student manual he had received back in 5th grade in 2005. He had preserved it for 21 years as a reminder of the moment that shaped his future. Today, Carlo is also part of the Adopt-A-Pilot Program, visiting schools and inspiring the next generation of future aviators.