I was happy with my General license. I could talk to the world, I could serve my community, I could teach newcomers. It felt like I had reached the top. But Samuel, who had aced his Amateur Extra exam, the highest license class, wouldn't let me get comfortable.
"You're missing out, Haruka," he'd say. "The Extra portions of the bands are where the real experts hang out. It's the deep end of the pool."
The Extra exam was a monster. It was a deep dive into advanced electronics theory, antenna physics, and complex calculations. I looked at the study guide once and felt my brain turn to mush. No thanks. I was happy in the shallow end.
The person who pushed me into the deep end was Azhar. He was getting ready to graduate with his engineering degree, and we were talking about my own future plans. "I don't know," I said. "Maybe I'll study science?"
He gave me a funny look. "Haruka, you live and breathe this stuff. You taught yourself antenna theory. You've troubleshot more electronics problems than most of my classmates. Have you ever thought about becoming an engineer?"
I had never, ever considered it. That was for super-geniuses like him and Samuel. "I'm not smart enough," I said.
He laughed. "Try studying for the Extra. Don't worry about passing. Just see if you like the challenge. Think of it as a sneak peek at engineering school."
His challenge stuck with me. Maybe I was selling myself short. I bought the book and started the highest climb of my radio career. It was brutal. I was wrestling with concepts that twisted my brain into knots. Smith charts. Transistor biasing. Differential equations.
But this time, I had a whole team of Elmers. Samuel could explain the most complex theory in simple, practical terms. Azhar helped me with the pure physics. Doretha, who had zero interest in the test, became my sounding board. I'd try to explain a concept to her, and the act of teaching it would cement it in my own mind.
Slowly, the impossible started to make sense. I was learning the why behind everything, down to the level of electrons dancing in a wire. And to my absolute shock, I was loving it. I loved the struggle, the frustration, and the incredible "aha!" moment when it all finally clicked.
After four months of intense study, I took the exam. The questions were hard, but I was ready. I worked through them, not just recalling memorized facts, but truly understanding the principles behind them.
The examiner graded my test, double-checked it, and then looked at me with wide eyes. "A perfect score," he said, shaking his head. "Congratulations, Extra."
I walked out of that room feeling like I could fly. It wasn't about the new frequencies. It was about proving to myself that I was smart enough, that I could conquer any challenge I set my mind to. Azhar was right. I was an engineer.
That night, I tuned my radio down into the exclusive, expert-only part of the band. I heard a station from a remote island. I picked up the microphone, my new privileges feeling solid and real in my hand. I made the call, my voice full of a confidence I had earned, and from across the world, an answer came back.