TBlake22
Well-Known Member
Alright guys, this will probably be a little long so I apologize in advance.
I'm 22 years old with a high school diploma, 50 hours & a PPL. The closest flight school to me is about 2.5 hours away and I planned on starting the rest of my ratings in September & even signed a lease to an apartment back in January.
I've always been a homebody..I love being around my family. I also have a serious girlfriend of 5 years, & she's already graduated college while I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to do with my life. We'll be getting ready to settle down here in the next few years & start a family. I have a job landscaping that usually runs from March through November of most years so I at least have an income.
Lately I've really been questioning whether or not I want to make the sacrifices it takes to become a professional pilot. Being away from home & family, not making any kind of money, etc. The airlines have never appealed to me, the schedule, the starting pay, and just the overall lifestyle..I'm sure most pilots don't say "hey I want to fly for so & so and make 20K a year, living on food stamps". I've always wanted to fly corporate, charter or something along those lines where you're home more. If I knew I could land a flying job somewhere close to home, I'd do it in a heartbeat and this wouldn't even be a question. But obviously nothing like that is promised in life.
I know one thing & that is I am passionate about airplanes. I absolutely love airplanes & everything about them. I feel like a little kid when I'm at an airport or see random planes flying around in this small town. I haven't found anything else in life that I'd rather be doing besides being around airplanes in some sort of way. So I'm torn..do I want to give up on a dream that I've had & settle for a job doing something I don't love, and only fly for fun on the side or suck it up, finish my ratings & eventually move away from my family even though I know I'd hate it? That's where I'm torn..I know nothing will interest me as much as aviation. I feel like it's too late to go back to college & get a degree so I kinda feel forced to finish out my training.
Sorry if this ran on too long..hopefully it made sense. Any advice would be appreciated..I know I'm not the first person to struggle with this.
I'm 22 years old with a high school diploma, 50 hours & a PPL. The closest flight school to me is about 2.5 hours away and I planned on starting the rest of my ratings in September & even signed a lease to an apartment back in January.
I've always been a homebody..I love being around my family. I also have a serious girlfriend of 5 years, & she's already graduated college while I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to do with my life. We'll be getting ready to settle down here in the next few years & start a family. I have a job landscaping that usually runs from March through November of most years so I at least have an income.
Lately I've really been questioning whether or not I want to make the sacrifices it takes to become a professional pilot. Being away from home & family, not making any kind of money, etc. The airlines have never appealed to me, the schedule, the starting pay, and just the overall lifestyle..I'm sure most pilots don't say "hey I want to fly for so & so and make 20K a year, living on food stamps". I've always wanted to fly corporate, charter or something along those lines where you're home more. If I knew I could land a flying job somewhere close to home, I'd do it in a heartbeat and this wouldn't even be a question. But obviously nothing like that is promised in life.
I know one thing & that is I am passionate about airplanes. I absolutely love airplanes & everything about them. I feel like a little kid when I'm at an airport or see random planes flying around in this small town. I haven't found anything else in life that I'd rather be doing besides being around airplanes in some sort of way. So I'm torn..do I want to give up on a dream that I've had & settle for a job doing something I don't love, and only fly for fun on the side or suck it up, finish my ratings & eventually move away from my family even though I know I'd hate it? That's where I'm torn..I know nothing will interest me as much as aviation. I feel like it's too late to go back to college & get a degree so I kinda feel forced to finish out my training.
Sorry if this ran on too long..hopefully it made sense. Any advice would be appreciated..I know I'm not the first person to struggle with this.