On Saturday, August 3rd, I reached a huge milestone in my aviation career. I earned my Instrument Flight Rating! This additional rating allows me to fly in inclement weather, low visibility, and low cloud cover. However, this accomplishment meant so much more to me than the certificate itself. I have been working towards this goal for just over a year. Last summer, I started studying for my instrument rating at a flight school in Punta Gorda, Florida. However, I was never taught to fly a non-precision VOR approach, leading to me receiving a disapproval on my first checkride. I then moved out to Houston, TX to attend Rice University, where…