I’m getting ready to take my first canopy course soon, and while I’m excited to learn, I’ll admit—I’m also a little nervous. Not about the classroom part, not even about the landings… it’s the hop and pops that get me.

Something about exiting solo at a low altitude makes my stomach do flips. The door feels bigger, the air feels quieter, and there’s no freefall to distract me. It’s just me, my canopy, and my thoughts—fast.

But maybe that’s the point.

Hop and pops expose a different kind of fear. They force you to focus, breathe, and trust your training without the usual routine to lean on. And honestly? That’s where the real growth happens.

I’m doing this canopy course because I want to be a better, smarter, and more confident pilot. I want to know my wing—not just ride it. And if that means facing my nerves at 3,500-5,000 feet, then I’m ready.

Scared? A little. But I’m learning that nerves don’t mean I’m not capable—they just mean I care enough to take this seriously.

Here’s to facing fears, one hop and pop at a time.