What do you want to be when you grow up? Maybe it's a doctor like Julia Zellers, Kristine Luebbe, AJ Schaefer and Dusty Minton.

Perhaps Avital BenNaim, Daelyn DeMello or Megan Eckhart will be performing lifesaving surgery on a beloved family pet in their future.

What ever your answer, it's the question the fifth graders at Prairie Winds Elementary School in Monument have been asked by their Southwest Airline's Adopt-A-Pilots since April.

For four weeks they learned about, history, geography, math, science and career planning during their lunch breaks. Last week their experiences culminated with a field trip to the United States Air Force Academy Airfield. The students were given a tour of the parachute and soaring programs at the Academy, where they got to watch the cadet and cadre members jump flawlessly.

This is the third year pilots from Southwest Airlines have been "adopted " at Prairie Winds Elementary. Captains John Mazurowski, J.C. Curran and John MacPherson have volunteered their services to the school this semester and have tasked each of the students to start plotting their future. When these three pilots retire in the years to come, maybe Chad Marshall will fill their shoes in a future cockpit.

Captain Curran in his second year requested Sara Scott's class this year so he would have the pleasure of instructing his son, Danny, in the curriculum. Said Captain Curran, "This is an excellent opportunity for the pilots to give back to the community and get a chance to meet these gifted young students. Added Captain MacPherson, a three year veteran of the program, "This is one of the best times to reach these young men and women before they head off to middle school. We try to emphasize that the choices they make in their education next year will have a direct influence on their future endeavors." This was the second time he has worked with Yolanda Martinez' fifth graders and the first time he has instructed Peter Wise' class. Captain Mazurowski, in his first year, was at first a little nervous teaching Hannah Joiner's students. "Once you start to teach and hear their insightful questions, you forget about being nervous. These kids make you think back when you were in their shoes and you realize how lucky you are to have a job you love!"

Now celebrating it's 10 th anniversary, the Southwest Airline's annual Adopt-A-Pilot program is a four week long mentorship program during which Southwest pilots volunteer their time in classrooms and correspond from the "road" via e-mail, postcards, phone and fax. Program curriculum incorporates math, science, geography, creative writing, and other educational subjects.

Recognized by Gen. Colin Powell and other national leaders as a significant contribution to the community and its children, the program's emphasis is to demonstrate the importance of education in reaching personal goals. The program will reach more than 30,000 students through 650 pilots nationwide this semester.

Although many different occupations were discussed and written about, Elizabeth Gregory, Declan Schade and Sam Cook still wanted the most difficult job of all. They want to teach!