Finding a common ground while learning about flight

by Joe
(Raymore)

Finding a common ground while learning about flight.

Throughout our lives, we are often labeled according to our profession. People want to know if you are married, how many children you have, what you do for a living….and most are able to give simple, straight forward answers. Since many people I have encountered were under the impression that I was going to school to be a Nurse (as was I), they are often shocked lately to hear that I am in Aviation school. They want to know “why” I’ve made such a drastic change in my career path, to which I explain as I did in my first article.

“I want to love what I do,” plain and simple. I love Nursing, but I don’t have the passion and drive to do it as a career. The topic of nursing used to spark some interesting conversations and I was going to miss that kind of interest. But over the past few weeks, I’ve been glad to realize that interests spark just as much with my admission that I am in Aviation training. If I were to say “I’m an accountant” or “I work at Arby’s”, people seem to just leave it at that (unless they were an accountant or work at Arby’s!). They might say “My accountant screwed up my taxes last year” or “Man! I love those curly fries”, but it usually doesn’t get much deeper than that.

Since I’ve started Dr. Bell’s program at Aviation Training Unlimited, I’ve found a new common ground with so many different people. People are interest how I am attaining such a goal, right here in Kansas City. They are astonished that I’m learning to be a pilot so close to home, and able to maintain some sort of normalcy in my home life as well.

I also sparked up a conversation with an older gentleman the other day. He was a Veteran of a Foreign War, and showed true enthusiasm in talking to me. I “spoke his language”! He was using aviation lingo that he obviously missed and felt comfortable talking about, and I was able to keep up all the while. I was interested in him, and he had found a niche in my new found intellect.

I’m proud to talk about ATU. It has enabled me to work for my goal as a pilot, and not give up my other dreams at the same time. I’m excited for what I have learned in such a short time and I am proud to stand on such common ground with people I admire, as well as entertain people with my new found passion. I am proud to not only be an aviation student, but a student at Aviation Training Unlimited.