I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T.

Obviously, as fierce Gen Y women, we all have an idea of what that means. And amid post- 4th of July festivities, independence is on the mind not just for women, but for all Americans.

Even in death, one of the original female trailblazers– a woman who embodied independence both for women and for Americans– is coming back into the spotlight. The search for Amelia Earheart’s plane crash wreckage has begun in Hawaii, nearly 75 years after it went missing somewhere over the South Pacific.

With this headline all over the news (here’s the WSJ coverage) in the past few days, it’s a great time to remember what an impressive woman Amelia was. I mean, I know we all learned about her in elementary school (plane-shaped diorama, anyone?), and we all know that she was a total female powerhouse: bold, courageous, talented and fearless. But now, as adults ourselves, looking back at what she actually accomplished is nothing short of inspiring.

Because you’re probably like me and forgot the majority of information that went into that 5th grade book report on Amelia, she was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for being the first to fly solo across the Atlantic. She was a best-selling author and was instrumental in forming an organization for female pilots, the Ninety-Nines. Additionally, on top of her many world records, she was a mentor at Purdue, joining the aviation department to help counsel women on careers and inspire them with her own love for flight. She was also a member of the National Woman’s Party and an early supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment.

This is a woman who trailblazed a path for many of us. If Amelia was alive today, there is no doubt she’d embody the very things we all look for in Levo League mentors. I’m even more amazed with her success today than I was as a young girl. Now that I’m out of the fifth grade, and have had enough experience to understanding the difficulties Amelia may have faced, I have a better grasp in adulthood of the sacrifice and strength she needed to accomplish what she did.

So get ready to update that old book report: the search for her crash is on anew. There will be 10 days of searching and 16 days of travel between Honolulu and the atoll, where she is thought to have disappeared. The group of scientists, historians, and salvagers are hopeful they’ll solve the mystery surrounding this fascinating woman.

Knowing our curious, knowledge-driven L(L) community, you’re probably very excited about the possibility of there finally being a conclusion to the death of one of America’s most iconic women. I know we’ll all be staying tuned. In the meantime, let us remain thankful for the Americans and the women that came before us and who have given us the opportunities of today.