Amelia Earhart: A Woman with a Strong Heart

Amelia Earhart: A Woman with a Strong Heart In 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman and second person to fly solo across the Atlantic (Amelia). Amelia’s success not only as an aviator but as a writer and activist encouraged women in their fight for equality in the United States. Amelia set numerous aviation records that led her to be one of the first female celebrities known for her success rather than her beauty. Her fight for women’s suffrage and her formation of the Ninety Nines, a women’s aviation club, inspired many young woman of her time (Briand). Amelia Earhart was an important figure who achieved great success and paved the way for women who came along after her. Amelia Mary Earhart was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas (Amelia). Amelia was a tomboy when she was young, she loved playing outdoors and going on adventures. Amelia was a very spirited girl, and she didn’t accept the explanation that girls just shouldn’t do things simply because they were girls. Amelia collected bugs, jumped off roofs and kept a scrapbook of newspaper clippings about successful women in predominantly male-oriented fields such as management, engineering and law (Parr). Amelia was no ordinary child, she knew something had to change in America from early on, her stubborn character to do whatever she wished would help usher in a new age for women around the world. Amelia was more than just a woman who flew a airplane, her modern lifestyle inspired many to follow suit. She served as a nurse during World War I, which was still a controversial job for women at the time (Amelia). Amelia had many interests and attended Colombia University signing up for a medical major. She took classes in engine repair, not smiled upon at the time, and classes in French poetry and even taught herself to play the banjo (Rich). Amelia liked to push the envelope and wasn’t afraid of controversy or being different. Although she left Colombia after one year, her year there played