Senator Martha McSally releases message for Arizona graduates

Senator encourages seniors to follow their dreams in spite of difficult circumstances

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KYMA, KECY) - Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) has released a special message to members of Arizona's Class of 2020.

"I know this isn’t the senior year you had planned and so many of you have already been through tough times. You’re missing out on yours friends and sports and proms and graduations and celebrating the milestone of everything that you’ve achieved,” McSally said. 

“I know this [pandemic] is going to make a deep impact on you, make it a positive impact. You will thrive. You will meet your full potential. The best is yet to come.”

The Senator went on to talk about the benefits that can be hidden in a change of plans.

“I had to take a different route and become an instructor pilot for a few years, and it was a long journey and it was difficult at times because I felt, you know, it’s not fair. Why can’t I meet my dreams? And other things out of my control were happening to me but then I got a phone call in 1994 from a general asking they were about to change the policy asking if I wanted to be one of the first women to fly fighters. As I look back, had I not been delayed, had I not been derailed. I would never have been given that opportunity.”

Sen. McSally went on to become the first female fighter pilot to fly a combat mission.