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It was after sitting in the Air Force jet that Kassandra Mueller ’25 and Ryleigh Wenker ’25 decided to fly along a different career path.��

Mueller, a management information systems major, and Wenker, an allied health major, participated in the Collegiate Leadership program by the ���Ĵ�ý Bay Chamber.

The program offered to students at U���Ĵ�ý, USF and St. Leo University is an August-to-May, monthly exploration of careers for young professionals in ���Ĵ�ý.��

The meetings either brought in professionals to the chamber — specialists in criminal justice, finance and tax, or the entertainment industry, for instance — or the students went out to meet professionals themselves, like the day Mueller, Wenker and the others learned about first responders and health professionals at the ���Ĵ�ý Police Department and MacDill Airforce Base.��

At the police department, Mueller and Wenker underwent a hands-on, wheels-flying demonstration that led to the two of them sitting in the back of a patrol car, experiencing the “J-turns” police officers practice for when they need to reverse quickly.��

While at MacDill, they didn’t simulate high-speed chases, the two found career opportunities fitted to their tempo.��

Mueller and Wenker were graduating with ideas about what they wanted to do, but they were not sure how to get there. Mueller knew she wanted to go flight school and become a pilot; Wenker wants to be a PA. Both paths, however, seemed steep, in cost and time.��

“Grad school costs a lot of money, and I need patient care hours, upwards of 1,000 to get into PA school alone. Figuring that out was really stressful, but when we got (to MacDill), it almost felt like a moment of clarity,” said Wenker.��

At the base, Mueller and Wenker toured some planes and talked to pilots, veterans and aero-evacuation medics. The professionals gave the two advice on their careers, and how they could start their respective dreams in the Air Force or as reservists, without breaking the bank.��

“It confirmed for me that I'm doing the right thing,” said Mueller.��

Wenker said she had never before considered the Air Force, but after talking to the medical evacuation staff, who work in a similar, fast-paced environment to Wenker’s ideal job as a medic in the emergency room, the job sounded “so up my alley.”��

The program also taught Mueller and Wenker how to act professional and get the part.��

Wenker said the experience made her feel more mature, more structured and more comfortable��talking to strangers and networking.��

“I'm no introvert by any means. I'm definitely an extrovert. But sometimes you're just shy. And I think that this really helped me break out of my shell and meet some really amazing people,” Wenker said.��

Mueller said the leadership program has “a lot of value in understanding yourself as a person,” which in turn helps her help others.��

“If you're making even a small impact on the community, you're being noticed by a lot of different people,” said Mueller.��