Advice on giving up flying.

vheissu

vheissu

Well-Known Member
Here is a little backround. I am 22, turning 23 this July. I work for a 135 outfit sitting right seat in Las Vegas. No upgrade in sight, and there is nowhere else to go. I haven't done anything academic besides flying since High School. I am going through my first tough break up with my ex girlfriend. It has gotten me thinking about every aspect of my life.

I feel like I skipped a few steps in life. I went straight to step 5, instead of starting at step 1. Sure, I can keep working here, living alone in Vegas, and take online classes and do that. But I just don't know if that is the right choice. I have been thinking about quitting my flying job, moving up to Northern Idaho, and going to school full time. In my head, flying will always be there, and I am really limited without the degree.

It is kind of scary making that big of a move, taking a step back in pay to just get a normal job to make ends meet, and just throw caution to the wind. I am basically just looking for any input from people that have done any similar things. Obviously most people at this site have a strong passion for aviation. I absolutely love flying, I can't see myself working a desk job forever. I just need some outside input that I am not crazy for quitting a flying job, moving 1800 miles away and putting the flying on hold...


-Jason
 
College is an experience that nobody should miss, IMHO...

But I wouldn't say "give up flying per say... but, postpone it for a few years. When you get done with a degree, good chances would be that the job market will be better than it is now... We all hope it can't be much worse, and if it is, you prob. wouldn't want to be in it anyways.
 
go to college. i wish i was still there most days! if you have the school paying for your time there make sure you put a 5th year (victory lap) in. :)
 
that's hard school. undergrad is easy fun carefree school. if i could be a degenerate and that creepy old guy and be happy with myself i would probably still be in school. :)
 
amorris311 said:
go to college. i wish i was still there most days! if you have the school paying for your time there make sure you put a 5th year (victory lap) in. :)
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haha, vistory lap. thats right. I did the 5th year. It was nice.

I think you should try to flight instruct while you are in college. But yea, college is a must IMO.
 
JustinA said:
I think you should try to flight instruct while you are in college. But yea, college is a must IMO.
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Yep, that pretty much sums it up. By all means, go to college.

However, there's no reason to give up the flying at this point if that's what you know you want long term. And since you're already flying professionally, you have the experience to know that; no real reason to make terminal changes to the plan just yet.

The one thing you might want to avoid is going non-current while in college. That's a deal breaker because your competition for jobs after school WILL be current and there'll be no shortage of competition. Trust me, you don't want to get non-current.

As for the girlfriend, I don't want to be insensitive but they're like the city bus: one comes by every 15 minutes or so. And, if you broke up, there's a reason for that: you SHOULD have broken up. About a year from now, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

Hang in there, Amigo. You'll be fine. :bandit:
 
At 22 all you have is time. Go to college, keep flying, enjoy it along the way.

Before you know it you'll be my age and wonder where the time went....and what that girls name was that you broke up with that one time in Vegas...
 
Go to college, you're really limiting how far you can go without a degree. I wouldn't trade my college experience for anything, it's more than just getting an education.
 
Options....
1. Enroll in online courses through your local community college and knock out your credits hrs while you work.
2. Quit your 135 job, go to school full time and instruct to pay bills.
3. Quit your 135 job, go to school full time and fine a line crew position to pay bills.
 
I would recommend taking Gen Eds at a local community college on the side while you are flying and then when you do leave your present job to go full time you will only be leaving the industry for 2-3 years instead of 4-5.... plus you can save a whole lotta loot in the process.
 
Actually, it you're going to North Idaho, there ARE part 135 jobs in GEG. I don't know if they're currently hiring, but Spokane Falls CC has a decent aviation program.
 
You're 22 dude, you've got your whole life ahead of you. Don't sweat that you're behind the curve at this point. That can wait til you're my age. :D
 
Screw that chick. I went through the same thing when I was 22. We were together for 5 years, then all of the suden, a switch went off in her head. And it was the best thing to ever happen to me, although I didn't think so at the time. Keep flying, and try to do online school at a reputabile school. Go find something fun to do in your off time untill you get that stupid -b- off your mind.
 
Wow, a lot of good advice on here already.

Absolutely think about fitting community college into your current schedule before you do anything else.

You can finish the first two years of most degree programs at community college. After that enroll in a four year school and instruct part time. That would be one of the best part time jobs you could have during college.

Forget the girl. There are so many more out there.

Jim
 
mshunter said:
Screw that chick. I went through the same thing when I was 22. We were together for 5 years, then all of the suden, a switch went off in her head. And it was the best thing to ever happen to me, although I didn't think so at the time. Keep flying, and try to do online school at a reputabile school. Go find something fun to do in your off time untill you get that stupid -b- off your mind.
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Almost exactly the same thing happened to me.

Who gives a about the bitch now. Old news, ancient history man. Dime a dozen. Don't be a • and feel like oh man she is the only one out there.
 
I'm going to echo a lot of what the others have said. You are only 22. You have plenty of time. I didn't even take my first flight until I was 24. My ex broke up with me when I was a CFI, and as bad as it was, I really owe her a thank you card.

If you want to fly, you have to make that decision. It takes time to get to where you want to go, and the best thing to do to help, is to get your degree. When you are getting it, you will determine whether flying is really what you want to do.

I graduated from college when I was 25, and had 100 hours.
 
Dude, you're totally set. College plus full time flying is rough, but doable. Build time, and have fun. As much as I bitch and moan, I do enjoy it.
 
How long have you been with the 135 outfit? If I were you I'd keep working there and take the classes slowly, few at a time while you can. You will get that degree that way while building up valuable flight time (which I am assuming might be turbine right?) You're in a flight position that many out there currently want. The degree is important, and I wouldn't change my college experience for ANYTHING (yay 5th year victory lap!) but don't be too quick to walk away from a position that many of us WITH degrees don't have enough hours to grab yet. So consider that option as well; I wouldn't recommend walking away from that job, unless of course you can hand the slot over to ME, in which case by all means go ahead :D. And as far as the girl, everyone here said it right, forget her, there's a lot more out there when you are 22.
 
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