I was a pioneer for women’s rights.

By being the first woman to fly

across the Atlantic Ocean. My plane mysteriously disappeared over the
Pacific Ocean in 1937, and has never been found.

I am Amelia Earhart.

I was born on July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas. My parents were Edwin
and Amy Earhart and I had one sister named Muriel. I grew up in my rich
grandmother’s house. She was well mannered and wanted me to learn the
same manners, but I wasn’t really interested.

I was an adventurous child, that didn’t act like other girls my age. I liked
to jump fences, play football, and shoot my .22 rifle. Most girls wore
long, dresses, but I like to wear loose pants. When only seven years old I
built a roller coaster in my backyard.

The summer before eighth grade, I saw my first airplane at a state fair.

As a teenager, my family split and we moved to Chicago. I was a good

student, athlete, and leader at my school. I had many dreams, but not a lot
money.

In 1916, I went to the Ogontz School in Pennsylvania.

In 1920 I went to another air show and I was surprised when I saw a
female pilot. Her name was Neta and she agreed to give me flying lessons
to become a pilot. I took lessons, studied flying, and learned how to fix
airplanes.

On December 15, 1921, I got my pilot’s license. For my birthday that

year I bought my first airplane. It was bright yellow, so I called it The
Canary.

In May 1927, Charles Lindbergh became the first person to fly across the
Atlantic Ocean in his plane called the Spirit of St. Luis.

This gave me the idea to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic
Ocean. A year later I became a passenger on an airplane
named Friendship. The pilots were Bill Stultz and Slim Gordon. Our trip
was a success. When we got back there was a parade and we were
heroes.

After that flight I wrote a book about my adventure across the Atlantic. I
wrote magazine and newspaper articles. I also gave speeches about
women’s rights and how I didn’t agree with the war.

On February 7, 1931 I married George Putnam. He was my publisher and

now he was my husband too.

In 1932 I decided that I wanted to fly across the Atlantic Ocean all by
myself. I took off from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland on May 20, 1932.
The flight was really dangerous because of the heavy rain and wind and
the thick clouds. I was very nervous, but I landed safely in Londonderry,
Ireland the next day.

The next day I flew to Washington, D.C. and President Herbert Hoover
gave me a gold medal. I became very famous, and wanted to help other
women to be treated fairly. I thought women should be able to do the
same things men did.

In 1937 I started planning my most dangerous flight yet. My plan was to

fly all the way around the world. On June 1, 1937 my navigator Fred
Noonan and I took off from Miami, Florida. We made it ¾ of the way
around the world when our plane mysteriously disappeared over
the Pacific Ocean on July 3, 1937.

After our plane mysteriously disappeared the United States government

spent $4 million to search us. The mystery around my disappearance still
continues.

Some people think we crashed and were captured by Japanese soldiers.

Other people think that we survived the crash and lived on a deserted
island. Even today, people are still trying to solve the mystery of our
disappearance.

Most people don’t know that I was also a fashion designer and a spy for
the U.S. Army.

I wasn’t just a pilot. I was a hero too. I was a pioneer for women’s rights.
I always believed that courage was the foundation of hope, and I also
said that “You can do anything you decided to do.”

I am Amelia Earhart.