Compassion In Control: Kentucky Teen Jets Off on First Solo Flight Delivering Supplies to Town Ravaged By Tornado

Mary Schalk isn’t your typical teenager. At 16-years-old, her maturity is propelling her into the spotlight.

Growing up in a family full of pilots, her dream was always to fly.

“I've been around it my whole life,” says Schalk, a junior in high school in Glasgow, Ky., as well as an active member of Barren County FFA. “Since the beginning, I’ve always wanted to fly, and I’ve always wanted to do it by myself.”

A Calling to Help 

In December, the day after a destructive tornado struck Kentucky, Mary Schalk had a calling to help. 

“Seeing what I saw on the news that night, because we stayed up all night watching, I knew I had to serve somehow, to help these people because I was available, and I had the resources to make this happen,” she says.

With a burning desire to help, an idea came to life. 

"My aunt kind of texted me and said she had an idea,” says Schalk. "I was like, ‘That is perfect.’ So we took it and started running. And I kind of thought, ‘Well, maybe I should ask Mom and Dad.’”

So, she did what any 16 year-old should do. She asked her parents for permission, already knowing what the answer would be. 

“They enjoy me helping. And they always tell me to lead by example,” says Schalk.

Leading by Example

Her dad was an agricultural teacher and FFA advisor for years, so leading by example has been a pillar of her upbringing. And in December, leading by example, is exactly what she did. 

“The night before we left one of our pilot buddies' wives actually put out on Facebook that she was going to leave the church doors open, as well as leave the airport open and unlocked. And she just put a call out for people to bring stuff. We were just trusting everybody to be honest and bring it,” explains Schalk.

With a simple call for help on social media, the ask was answered within hours. 

“It was just overfilling with all the stuff that people donated,” Schalk says. “She put it out on Facebook at about 7:30 that night, and by 7:30 that next morning, in a 12-hour period, there was so much donated at the airport and at that local church.”

First Solo Flight

Loading up her four-seater plane with the donations that came flooding in left room for only one person in the plane. And so with that, Schalk took off on her first solo flight, all at the age of 16.

“We've taken toiletries, water, clothes, blankets, and we even did Christmas presents for our last trip,” she says.  

The 200-mile trip to Mayfield, Ky., an area considered ground-zero for devastation, didn’t happen just once. With the approval of her instructor, she’s completed the 1-hour flight three times by herself, each trip with a plane loaded full of supplies to help.  

Watch: Kentucky Farmers Endure Epic Ruin And Worst Storm Damage In State History As Agriculture Rushes To Rebuild

“Natural disasters don't define poor or rich or anything in between. It's just people. And at the end of the day, those people had nothing. It didn't matter if they lived in a small trailer home or if they lived in huge mansion, it was gone,” says Schalk.

Mission Takes Flight

And with the resources to provide relief, Schalk did what not man teenagers are able do. She took to the skies to get the relief to those in need.

“I just wanted to help those people, because I was the middle ground. I wanted to help them when they had absolutely nothing left,” she adds.

Comfort in the Pilot's Seat

Her mission isn’t over yet. Schalk says she has another trip planned, with more supplies to help with recovery and relief. As it seems in the pilot seat is exactly where the 16-year-old is meant to be.

“Well, my dad jokes all the time. I’ll be driving like we did in the snow the other day, and he was holding on for dear life. He’s scared to drive with me. But he said he absolutely loves flying with me,” says Schalk with a smile on her face.

The FFA member is a living example of what it means to embody the virtues of FFA. Schalk is learning to do, while also living to serve. She is proof the sky’s the limit when compassion takes control.