I have always loved aviation, from my childhood, when my uncle let me “help” pilot his plane and helicopter while sitting in his lap. Since then aviation has been in my blood! I went to school at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with the hopes and aspirations of becoming a professional pilot. In my freshman year of college, I earned my private pilot certificate. In my first semester of my sophomore year, I nearly completed my instrument rating. I was going into my second semester getting ready to take my check ride, but while doing my pre-check with my instructor pilot, I was having issues.
Unbeknownst to me, I was having the onset of my first mental health episode. I started seeing a school therapist and soon after that was prescribed an antidepressant (SSRI) when I was getting worse and acknowledging my depressive episode. I stopped flying temporarily in the hopes that after I resolved my issues and got off of the medication. It wasn’t as easy as I thought: the process for being approved to get a medical on SSRIs was grueling and expensive. I was two weeks away from my instrument check ride when I stopped flying, little did I know that would be the last time I was pilot in command of an aircraft. Later that semester as my depression got worse, I ended up getting hospitalized for it for one week, immediately before finals.
After finally getting myself together enough, I was able to get through that semester and finishing finals, still pulling out a 3.6 gpa! I realized I was still doing well because I enjoyed what I was studying, so I didn’t want to change to another field, despite not being able to fly. I ended up being diagnosed with bipolar I disorder, which automatically disqualifies me from ever holding an FAA medical.
While I continued my studies, I was able to attain my Aircraft Dispatcher certificate, which does not require a medical certificate. I pursued this as my career and was able to make a decent life for myself with a nice company change after I dispatched for about one and a half years, despite the company change happening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Life was tough, but I was tougher!
What is Your Title?
Aviation Professional
What is Your Favorite Quote?
I’m supposed to be the soldier, who never blows his composure
Even though I hold the weight of the whole world on my shoulders
-Eminem
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