10 QUESTIONS WITH MAGGIE PAUCEK

1. What attracted you to the sport of skydiving?

I never thought about skydiving too much until I got into college and some of my friends started talking about it with me. Finding out that there was a dropzone in my hometown definitely helped spike my curiosity in the sport. How I didn’t know it was there, I don’t know!

2. What influenced you to actually make the phone call to make your first skydive?

Well, Jenny Buck and I were in a music ensemble in college together, and one day after rehearsal, she came up to me and said, “You should go skydiving,” to which I responded, “I should WHAT?” I said I’d think about it, and I did. With a little encouragement, I finally decided okay, I’m going to do this, and I made that call, put a deposit down, and waited for the day to arrive!

3. What’s the most memorable skydive you’ve ever been on?

I have not yet started my skydiving licensure, but the tandems I’ve been on and the people I work with make me more eager all the time! I’ve done three tandems now, and while each is memorable for different reasons, my most recent is probably my most memorable so far. I got to go up in the plane with four awesome WSC members on July 4^th who gave me the ride of my life, shout out to Charlie, Rita, Jenny, and Jeff! After that jump, I almost showed up to the AFF class the following week.

4. Who / What inspires you?

I’m inspired by many things. Beauty in nature, music, family, friends, and collegues all influence me in ways that inspire me to make the world a better place.

5. Of the places you have visited – what is your favorite place and why?

Bayfield, WI. I have been on trips abroad, like Italy and Greece, as well as places in the US, like New York City and Washington DC, but nothing quite makes me as happy as the calm, friendly, and beautiful atmosphere of the little town of Bayfield in northern Wisconsin. The sense of community there warms my heart, and that makes me feel at home when I visit.

6. What other interests do you have outside of skydiving?

I’m a musician, playing many various instruments. Also, I’ve always had a strong interest in meteorology. Growing up, I wanted to be a storm chaser. This spring, I get to fulfill that dream as I take a severe weather field study course, which concludes the semester with a two-week storm chasing trip. Eeek!

7. What is something about you that few people know about?

Two things: 1.) I would love to build an Earthship as a future home. 2.) I performed in Carnegie Hall in NYC.

8. If you could meet anyone in the world for a coffee and a chat (alive or deceased) who would you wish to meet with?

Leonard Bernstein, composer and conductor. You probably would recognize him as the guy who wrote the music for West Side Story. Anyway, his music makes me smile and feel so many feelings, and watching videos of him conduct makes me laugh and sad he is no longer with us. I feel like he would be excellent company for coffee and conversation.

9. What do you do for work? If you could do anything as an occupation – what would it be?

I am currently a student at UW-Whitewater studying Instrumental and General Music Education. There are many things that I think would be cool to do as an occupation, but I’m pretty darn excited about sharing the love of music with future generations the same way my music teachers shared it with me.

10. What are your future goals?

I have many goals, many of which are not possible to do if I also want to do one of my other goals. As I move forward into my career and onward with my life, I will be able to better decide on a path, especially as new things arise that I cannot now predict. My goal: Be happy, and inspire others.