I was 39 years, 11 months and one week old when I flew. I was determined to fly before I was 40.

I went over there when they were 3 months old and they had never even had a bath. They still only weighed 5 pounds at 5 months old.

I tried out but was unsuccessful and never made any team. In junior high, I would actually try out for the track team and basketball every year - and I'd always get cut.

There were a lot of really good teachers at Valley who taught me well and were very inspirational. They taught me to want to make the most out of my life and to learn how to learn.

I figured I needed to learn engineering or learn Russian. Now people aren't concerned with taking our freedom. They want to take our jobs, and we're not competing against the Russians. We're competing against everyone.

Even if you just lose one pound a week, in six months that's about 26 pounds.