trafficinsight
Well-Known Member
Pardon my indulgence.
A bit under 23 years ago I spent my first night in the dorms at San Jose State. I was there studying computer science, it was something I enjoyed and I figured I'd make a comfortable living doing that and maybe then someday I could learn to fly and maybe buy an airplane or something. I was arranging my room with the door open when a guy stopped by and introduced himself. His room was at the opposite end of the hall and he was just making the rounds saying hi. I thought that was kind of weird because I hadn't realized yet that college was not going to be anything like high school, but he was a cool guy and we hit it off. He was in the aviation department at SJSU, which I didn't even know existed when I decided to go there. We talked airplanes quite a bit and hung out and laughed a lot. He's probably one of the funniest people I know. There were shenanigans.
Over the winter break he earned his private. One night that spring around 10:00pm I was sitting in my room with the door open, as I often did, working on my homework and not enjoying it a whole lot. He stopped by and said "Hey do you wanna go flying?" I said that of course I'd like to go flying, when? "Right now!" He said. The last time I had been flying was on my 12th birthday, I also was given a glider ride that day which was incredible. In between that and college I had gotten way into becoming a pilot, and then over time decided there was probably no way I could ever afford that and got into computers instead.
I jumped at the chance, about an hour or so later we were circling San Francisco. It was a perfectly clear cold night, we landed at Napa and then returned to Reid Hillview around 1:30am.
Sometime while circling the city I had moment of clarity. This is what I'm meant to do. I have no money and no ideas, but I have to find a way to make this work.
In the interim there was.... a lot. A lot of hardship, of luck, of hard work, extraordinary friends, and sometimes far more charity than I deserve.
Wild things happened!
My friend who I met on day 1 in dorms ended up teaching me to fly.
I made a snap decision to pursue an A&P on the advice of my faculty advisor... best one moment decision I ever made. Like 2 weeks later 9/11 happened.
A friend volunteered me, in a protest letter to the department chair signed by the entire class, to teach powerplant classes at my Alma Mater and when I asked my boss for advice because I wanted to help these students out but I didn't want to burden him with my absence as I was his only licensed mechanic, he said it would be stupid for me not to pursue that and we would figure out the rest. For 2 years I worked 7 days a week during the school year.
I happened to be involved in a lunchtime conversation that hinted at an opportunity and jumped on it, which led to starting a company which still exists today. 13 years later it's still one of the things I am most proud of.
I got a job at an airline and flew a jet for the first time, and they even let me upgrade.
And a couple days ago... 23 years after telling myself damn the practicality I have to find a way, I gave notice at what I hope is the last "stepping stone" I'll ever need.
It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll.
A bit under 23 years ago I spent my first night in the dorms at San Jose State. I was there studying computer science, it was something I enjoyed and I figured I'd make a comfortable living doing that and maybe then someday I could learn to fly and maybe buy an airplane or something. I was arranging my room with the door open when a guy stopped by and introduced himself. His room was at the opposite end of the hall and he was just making the rounds saying hi. I thought that was kind of weird because I hadn't realized yet that college was not going to be anything like high school, but he was a cool guy and we hit it off. He was in the aviation department at SJSU, which I didn't even know existed when I decided to go there. We talked airplanes quite a bit and hung out and laughed a lot. He's probably one of the funniest people I know. There were shenanigans.
Over the winter break he earned his private. One night that spring around 10:00pm I was sitting in my room with the door open, as I often did, working on my homework and not enjoying it a whole lot. He stopped by and said "Hey do you wanna go flying?" I said that of course I'd like to go flying, when? "Right now!" He said. The last time I had been flying was on my 12th birthday, I also was given a glider ride that day which was incredible. In between that and college I had gotten way into becoming a pilot, and then over time decided there was probably no way I could ever afford that and got into computers instead.
I jumped at the chance, about an hour or so later we were circling San Francisco. It was a perfectly clear cold night, we landed at Napa and then returned to Reid Hillview around 1:30am.
Sometime while circling the city I had moment of clarity. This is what I'm meant to do. I have no money and no ideas, but I have to find a way to make this work.
In the interim there was.... a lot. A lot of hardship, of luck, of hard work, extraordinary friends, and sometimes far more charity than I deserve.
Wild things happened!
My friend who I met on day 1 in dorms ended up teaching me to fly.
I made a snap decision to pursue an A&P on the advice of my faculty advisor... best one moment decision I ever made. Like 2 weeks later 9/11 happened.
A friend volunteered me, in a protest letter to the department chair signed by the entire class, to teach powerplant classes at my Alma Mater and when I asked my boss for advice because I wanted to help these students out but I didn't want to burden him with my absence as I was his only licensed mechanic, he said it would be stupid for me not to pursue that and we would figure out the rest. For 2 years I worked 7 days a week during the school year.
I happened to be involved in a lunchtime conversation that hinted at an opportunity and jumped on it, which led to starting a company which still exists today. 13 years later it's still one of the things I am most proud of.
I got a job at an airline and flew a jet for the first time, and they even let me upgrade.
And a couple days ago... 23 years after telling myself damn the practicality I have to find a way, I gave notice at what I hope is the last "stepping stone" I'll ever need.
It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll.
