Passion is wonderful when grounded in reality, especially when it's aligned with certain careers. Dream all you want to, but one has to also be prepared, work the process and keep heading up the road in the meantime. And if you're not completely involved in where you are currently, you may be missing out/not enjoying the journey and just focusing on some end result which will most likely change over time anyways.
But how much reality can someone in OP's position really have? Our job as people who are living that reality is to mentor, guide, and educate those that want to come into it. Instead we heckle, belittle and discourage. This thread has a lot of the former, sure, but also way too much of the latter.
We pilots are a salty and grouchy bunch, and for some reason we just love jumping on people who are young with little knowledge of the industry.
Case in point, lets look at SJS. What started out of a term used for people who chase fancy airplanes to the overall detriment of the industry has expanded to pretty much be applicable to ANYONE who shows interest in flying a specific aircraft, regardless of the circumstances. I like the aircraft I fly, and was excited to get the chance, but I dared not display that excitement because I would be accused of having SJS. And that is just ridiculous.
Passion for aviation is one thing. Having zero other interests outside of it is something else entirely.
It's also a way to have your world come crashing down around you when you go through a rough time in this industry and you don't have anything else to turn to for fulfillment.
There's something to be said for being well rounded.
Well rounded, sure, but knowing what you want and where you want to be is not a bad thing in of itself. This is what I've always wanted to do and I've lived my life in a way that got me here. There is literally nothing else I would want to do. Is that dumb? Yeah probably, but if my world does come crashing down I'll figure things out then.
I have an aviation degree, and it's served me well over the years. I've held several flying jobs, and several non flying jobs just fine. Really if I went back to school I can think of another degree I would rather have done...or would have had the patience or inclination to pursue.
People like to lose their mind when it comes to STEM degrees...It's the only degree one should get! Screw that. I would much rather pursue a silly aviation degree of questionable worth, than an electrical engineering degree of great value but with little passion towards it.
