This story is shared with appreciation to KTAB/KRBC and reporter Tobin Smith.
Most teenagers can’t wait for the keys to their first car.
Rebekah Mansur had her eyes on something a little higher.
At just 17 years old, the Wylie High School student has earned her pilot’s license — a milestone that reflects years of discipline, determination, and a whole lot of time spent studying the skies.
As Rebekah performs a careful walk-around inspection of a Cessna 172 before flight, she’s quick to credit the work behind the moment.
“Working hard and knowing that I had to make it happen if I wanted it to happen,” Rebekah shared. “Just pushing myself and studying — sometimes doing a little more — to make sure I got where I wanted to go.”
That work paid off. Rebekah recently completed her check ride, impressing instructors with how prepared she was for every part of the process.
Her father, Kauai Mansur — a pilot himself — admits he has complete confidence in her skills.
“Honestly, I’m more concerned when she goes driving at night than when she flies,” he said. “She was overprepared, and the instructor was incredibly impressed. There was no question she was ready.”
Although officially licensed, Rebekah says one moment will make it all feel real.
“Once I take up my first passenger, that will be the most surreal feeling,” she said.
That first passenger? The person who inspired her love of aviation and supported her every step of the way — her dad.
As the Mansur family waits for clear skies, one thing is already certain: Rebekah’s future is wide open, and she’s learning early that with hard work and focus, dreams really can take flight.
It’s great to be a Wylie Bulldog. 🐾✈️