ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Sarah Smith has come a long way since June 9, 2023, her last day at the Pactiv Evergreen paper mill in Canton.

One year later, Smith is a flight student at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and WNC Aviation, working toward becoming a pilot. 

“Honestly, I’ve always wanted to fly. I thought it was just the coolest thing ever,” Smith said.

Smith and more than 1,000 employees lost their jobs last year as the mill closed in Canton.   

“It’s humbling looking back to where I was this time last year,” Smith said. "I've come a long way, that's for sure. I feel like I'm on a good path. I feel like I can get done what I've always wanted to, which is to achieve my dream of being a pilot." 

Smith grew up in Canton, where the mill was a fixture in the town. The pride in their tight-knit community, that’s what made Papertown, so losing the mill and her job all at once was a lot to take in.  

“A whirlwind honestly,” Smith said. “Trying to figure out how to process the shutdown of the mill, trying to find a new job.”  

She works full-time at Pratt & Whitney manufacturing parts for plane engines, while also going to school as a full-time student. She also runs social media for the American Big Rig Racing company. 

“I’ve got a lot on my plate,” Smith said. 

While losing a job and starting over is tough, she says it gave her the push to spread her wings and chase her dream.    

“I planned on just working at the mill and saving up money and just flying when I could. But losing my job there kind of gave me no choice but to go for it,” Smith said.

Smith said she received funds for school at A-B Tech from the dislocated worker grant, a federal grant totaling $7.5 million, which aided North Carolinians after the mill’s closure