Also take advantage of any government program in your area.
Isn't it absurd that in this country we can give someone incredible responsibility for the lives of scores of people, yet they're compensated at a level that requires the assistance of "government programs". It's just sad, IMO. Greedy corporations taking advantage of our "dreams" to fly; of course we largely do it to ourselves by constantly underbiddng each other for flying jobs. Hell, some people will do it for free or even pay to do it; it hurts us all. Anyway, that's beyond the scope of this discussion.
Just remember that if you do go to work in this industry, you are simply a number to a corporation that won't think twice about throwing you on the street for the bottom line (unfortunately this is life; not unique to just aviation). But when you do start your family in 5 or so years (presumably there will be another hiring streak between now and then), and you're sitting in hotels most of the time, will it be worth it to you? even on 3rd year regional FO pay? Yea, money won't make you happy, but money does give you choices and enables a certain standard of living. If you're raking in enough dough, you could buy your own plane, and then fly for fun when, where, and however you want. In professional aviation, there's no job security, airlines furlough and go belly up all the time (and unfortunately, this is one industry where if this happens to you, you go back to square one on the todem pole regardless of your experience/qualifications), you're never more than one year from possibily being out of a medical, the FAA is always breathing down your neck, your ticket is always on the line, and you're pretty much told how to do every aspect of your job--and if that means getting up at 3:00 in the morning to work a 24-hour day (in my case) when you're 8 times zones from where you were yesterday, then so be it. Then again, as they say, it's "better than working for a living."
I know this sounds like a discouraging post, but I'm just trying to point out that it isn't always the glorious occupation that people invision it as, and I'm just trying to point out some realities. Unfortunately, it's hard to determine if it's the right lifestyle for you until you're already there living it. All I can say is to get perspectives from many different people and decide for yourself if it's what you want. I can say that I'd make the same decision again if I were fresh out of college and had nothing but a suitcase and a pilot's license to my name. But if I already had a job paying me $65K a year with the prospect of earning much more in the future (for example, like my best friend from college who got a degree in nuclear engineering--he wanted to fly too, but he had an issue with his medical and other opportunities surfaced that he decided to take advantage of; he has no regrets as there is currently a large demand and small supply of folks with this degree), I'd probably be foolish not to at least consider going that route and flying on the side for fun.
Bottom line--you only get to live once; do what you feel like will make you happy. At 23, you have plenty of time to figure it out so there's no need to rush in to making this critically important decision without due diligence. The right decision for me may not be the right decision for you, depending on what's most important to you. If you "hate" your current profession, then maybe the right thing is to consider something else. If aviation happens to be that "something else", just make sure you realize what you're getting yourself in to. It's a lifestyle unlike anything else that few people understand. If you're cool with that, then go for it!
