Hearing Impaired Romeoville HS Student Dreams of Being a Commercial Pilot

Marc Sotelo wants to be a commercial airline pilot.

On the surface, such an ambition isn’t all that unusual for a 16-year-old young man. But in Marc’s case it is because he has lived with a moderate to severe hearing loss since he first started kindergarten more than nine years ago at Hermansen Elementary School.

“It’s been my dream since I was six years old,” Sotelo said. “But because of my hearing loss, people were telling me I couldn’t do it.”

Marc, an “A” and “B” student at RHS, refused to take “no” for an answer, launching a personal research campaign three years ago that culminated in a remarkable discovery that a Southern Illinois University flight instructor has carved a flying career despite a more severe hearing impairment than Marc’s.

“I e-mailed him and he responded, telling me it was possible,” Sotelo recalled. “He said airlines don’t care if you have hearing loss. All they care is if you are able to function properly and can handle tough tasks.”

The communication gave new life to Marc’s quest.

Since then he has begun making plans for flight time toward his pilot’s license. And he already knows he must go to college when he graduates from RHS in 2016.

“I wanted to finish all my education,” he said. “Airlines want a four-year degree.”

“Marc is one of the most ambitious students I’ve seen,” said RHS Itinerant Teacher Jill Furto, adding Marc’s story is one of those “wow” moments teachers yearn for. “I’ve had a lot of serious students who don’t know what they’re going to do with their lives. He’s not going to let his hearing loss hold him back.”

Sotelo launched his flying career earlier this month when RHS Transition Specialist Laura Bargas helped get him aboard a plane out of Lewis University Airport.

“I was scared at first, but then when we lifted off I was like oh this is so easy,” he said as he recalled taking over the controls for two 15-minute periods. “It was easier than driving a car. It was thrilling to have the opportunity.”

“This is so exciting,” Furto said. “He’s very ambitious and driven.”

Editor's note: This article was submitted by Valley View School District 365U.