Aviation isn’t just a career—it’s my passion, my obsession, my pièce de résistance.
I wish I could say my path was linear, perfectly timed, and gracefully executed… but that wouldn’t be the truth. And it wouldn’t be me.
I’m the kind of person who needs to experience something fully before I commit. So when I set my sights on becoming a pilot, I asked myself: Can I handle the aviation lifestyle?
That question led me to the jumpseat—not just to fly—but to learn who I was at 35,000 feet. Being a flight attendant for American Airlines wasn’t just a job—it was a transformational season of growth that shaped my future in the cockpit.
😊 Find a Reason to Smile (Every Day)
“There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you are interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.”
— Art Turock
This quote carried me through the turbulence—literal and metaphorical. My flight attendant journey taught me three core lessons that every aspiring aviator should learn:
🔹 1. Can I Handle the Schedule?
🔹 2. Do I Have the Resilience to Face Adversity?
🔹 3. What Healthy Ways Do I Have to Manage Stress?
Let’s break each one down.
⏰ 1. Handling the Flight Attendant Schedule
Let me preface this: no one enters aviation for the amazing schedule.
Sure, there are legends of 36-hour layovers in Rome and impromptu Paris getaways—but the reality? More often than not, it’s 3:00 AM showtimes and 30-hour layovers in Tulsa.
The key difference between people on the ground and people in the air?
🌳 Ground people are like oak trees—deep roots, stable lives, familiar faces.
🌴 Air people are palm trees—flexible, bend-but-don’t-break types who learn to adapt fast.
Being a flight attendant taught me to stop resenting the chaos and start dancing with it. I treated every call from scheduling as a surprise adventure—an opportunity to explore cities I wouldn’t have otherwise chosen.
What helped me thrive?
- Learning how AM/PM trip preferences work
- Understanding reserve callout patterns
- Prioritizing sleep and energy management like a pro
Knowing how to stay rested and mentally ready became my first superpower in aviation.
💪 2. Resiliency: Thriving Through Adversity at 35,000 Feet
If there’s one non-negotiable trait for any aircrew member, it’s resilience.
You’re held responsible for events completely outside your control—delays, cancellations, angry passengers, medical emergencies, and operational changes. And yet, you’re the face of the airline in every moment.
Being a flight attendant taught me:
- How to pause in chaos
- How to read the room and respond with empathy
- That patience and a calm tone can defuse almost any situation
As crew, we represent a global network of thousands, but to the passenger, we’re their only connection to the airline in that moment.
It’s a unique kind of stress. You’re solving problems while hurtling through the air at 500 mph. When personal life got hard, I wasn’t at home—I was in Salt Lake, Boston, or San Juan. But I showed up, stayed composed, and kept flying.
🧘 3. Healthy Ways to Release Stress
Stress is inevitable. But aviation gives you options.
My release? Travel. On my days off, I flew wherever I could—solo adventures, spontaneous meetups with friends, or just chasing sunsets across time zones.
Others found peace in:
- Fitness and wellness routines
- Cooking or journaling
- Dance, music, photography
- Community and connection
My greatest asset was my family. My sister and I both flew for American Airlines, and my family adapted to the non-traditional schedule like pros. We celebrated birthdays on weekdays, holidays on layovers, and found joy in our flexibility.
What seemed unconventional to others gave me:
- Christmases in January
- Birthday dinners in Disneyland
- Surprise trips to Tokyo or Jamaica
Flight attendant life wasn’t perfect. But it was full of moments worth remembering.
💡 Be True to You: The Lessons I Carry to the Cockpit
When I reflect on my flight attendant chapter, I see how it built the foundation for who I am as a pilot today. The schedule taught me flexibility. The adversity taught me compassion. The stress release taught me how to breathe when the pressure mounts.
And no—I wouldn’t change a single layover.
A wise instructor once told me:
“Life is so Chocolate Bar.”
I’ll explain what that means later… but for now, find the moments that feel rich, random, and unforgettable. The ones where you look back and say, “That was so Chocolate Bar.”
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