From a young age, Assets graduate Joshua Hackman '17 always felt a pull toward the skies. While many children dreamed of being pilots, Joshua never saw aviation as just a dream—it was a calling. “I could sit at the airport for hours just watching airplanes take off and land,” said Joshua. “Most people get frustrated by flight delays, but for me, it was just more time to stare out the window and take it all in.” With his father working for Hawaiian Airlines, aviation seemed to run in the family.

Joshua has since turned that childhood passion into a career as an airline pilot. One of his most memorable milestones came during his very first pushback from the gate in a commercial airliner. “Starting the engines with a full load of passengers, I couldn’t believe I was actually in the flight deck. I was grinning ear to ear while also shaking at the same time. It’s hard to describe that feeling—I had made it to where I wanted to be in life. Of course, my next thought was, now you have to land this thing!”

Looking back, Joshua credits his time at Assets School with helping him take the first steps toward his career. The Wednesday mentorship program, which allowed students to shadow professionals in their fields of interest, was especially formative. “Naturally, I chose aviation. I started at a local flight school doing anything I could just to be around airplanes. That mentorship eventually led me to fly actual cargo airplanes on Wednesdays and, even more importantly, secured me a job in the middle of COVID when nobody was hiring pilots. That opportunity helped me build flight hours early and ultimately allowed me to get hired at the airlines at such a young age.”

Joshua’s advice for students is simple but powerful: follow your passion with persistence. “Find what you love doing. Once you find your passion, it never feels like work—you just want to improve and advance. Surround yourself with whatever fuels that passion and put yourself out there. Networking is huge. Learn from people ahead of you, take their advice, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Don’t let intimidation or self-doubt stop you from making big moves in life.”

From his early fascination with aircraft to his first flight deck experience, Joshua’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, mentorship, and perseverance—values he first discovered as an Assets student and continues to carry with him thousands of feet above the ground.