Should I be a Flight Attendant or Should I go to College?

[dwightcharles 12]

post #17 seems to have some merit.

I might have misunderstood you or have not understand what you said at all. Did you wanna explain further regarding the calendar thing? I apologize.

I think you might have the idealized flight attendant life in your mind. Don't know about you, but I would certainly would not want to spend a lot of hours atending to people that will be in various degrees of crankiness and bad hair days, worst on a bad weather day, specially in a US based airline that is all about cutting costs.

I travel quite a bit, see more of my share of rude passengers that I'd like to, and and frankly I don't know how these people (the flight attendants) do it (without strangling people that is)

As a flight attendant, your career ladder prospects are limited and not much to fall back into. The first merger or bankrupt filing will find yourself out of a job faster than the tiem it might take to pack your bags for the next assignment.

Your education will be something no one can take away. Yes, you might have a debt to start with, but you have a level of control over that. You seem to have the ambition and already have thought of your own design house, which is also something you control, as in you make your own destiny. I'd say got for it.

Am I the only one who think this is a no brainer?

Thank you.

[Darnell 8,479]

sure.

since your family is extricating themselves from an old geezer in florida

and you need the monies for their daily expenses,

you really should take the job in April,

work until school starts

then go to school, telling your employer to put you on the weekend shift.

all of this requires careful studying of a calendar, but I feel that since you want to get monies to yer mom and siblings, to get extracted from that old geezer in Florida,

you'll do what you can to help them.

April to end of july is 4 months - that's 4 months yer out of the house, sending them monies. Win-Win, both areas.

[NY_BX 397]

Ok, so, here's my take....

In 2001 I was a flight attendant for TWA and 9/11 happened. I was furloughed and then hired by Continental Express in 2002. I was a flight attendant for 4 years. The I hated about the job surpassed- by far- the things I loved about it. You will sit reserve, until you're senior enough to hold a line. It is incredibly stressful, putting it lightly. It is the highest turn-over of any industry for a reason. That said, yes, the perks are enviable. But, the perks aren't a subtitute of what education will give you.

Prior to this I did my BA, and an MA in Labor Relations. After I quit flying, I also finished an MFA in Creative Writing. Guess what? Now I study at Mannes Conservatory, THE NEW SCHOOL! I love it. I'm a college professor, a writer, pianist and producer. I fly around the world, therefore, I do not miss the perk.

I hope this synopsis of CV helps you in some way, shape or form. You are young and you can always be a flight attendant. Take advantage of the best opportunity you have which is to become an expert in your dream career.

Best of luck!

[NY_BX 397]

i say do both and juggle the calendar with work when school is in session.

TNS is strict with calendars. Artists must be available for weekend sessions- be it as an usher or creator. I have to play a lot!

[NY_BX 397]

sure.

since your family is extricating themselves from an old geezer in florida

and you need the monies for their daily expenses,

you really should take the job in April,

work until school starts

then go to school, telling your employer to put you on the weekend shift.

all of this requires careful studying of a calendar, but I feel that since you want to get monies to yer mom and siblings, to get extracted from that old geezer in Florida,

you'll do what you can to help them.

April to end of july is 4 months - that's 4 months yer out of the house, sending them monies. Win-Win, both areas.

Darnell:

Being an FA is a lot more complicated. He will sit reserve, which means, he'll be on call 24/7 with certain days off. It goes by seniority. Talking to supervisors about scheduling doesn't work.

The peers that studied were able to do so because they held a line, in other words, they knew their monthly schedule and were able to trade trips. That's how it works in the industry. This is standard in the industry, regulated by the FAA.

The advice, though positive, is unrealistic.

[dwightcharles 12]

Ok, so, here's my take....

In 2001 I was a flight attendant for TWA and 9/11 happened. I was furloughed and then hired by Continental Express in 2002. I was a flight attendant for 4 years. The I hated about the job surpassed- by far- the things I loved about it. You will sit reserve, until you're senior enough to hold a line. It is incredibly stressful, putting it lightly. It is the highest turn-over of any industry for a reason. That said, yes, the perks are enviable. But, the perks aren't a subtitute of what education will give you.

Prior to this I did my BA, and an MA in Labor Relations. After I quit flying, I also finished an MFA in Creative Writing. Guess what? Now I study at Mannes Conservatory, THE NEW SCHOOL! I love it. I'm a college professor, a writer, pianist and producer. I fly around the world, therefore, I do not miss the perk.

I hope this synopsis of CV helps you in some way, shape or form. You are young and you can always be a flight attendant. Take advantage of the best opportunity you have which is to become an expert in your dream career.

Best of luck!

OMG!!! So you go to the New School too? OMG. That is awesome.

Thank you sooooo much. I will do my best. I will wait for the scholarship winner announcement. But if only I had all the money in the world, I will definitely pick Parsons over Flight Attendant career without no second thoughts.

I wasn't able to include it in my original post but one of the reason as well why being a flight attendant to me is also very important because right now, I am helping my mom and the whole family with our finances. If I go to school full time, I may not earn a lot even if I have a part time job on the side. That is why I am also really considering becoming a flight attendant so I can continually support my family, in my own little way with our financial situation.

But I guess, Education really is very important. I know I can achieve and do more if I go to school. This is a big step for me. I will do my very best and stand strong for what I believe is best for me and my family. In the long haul, I know getting my education at Parsons will be of more benefit not just for me but as well as for my family!

Thank you guys. and I hope to see you one day in New York or maybe in the New School campus.

Edited March 16, 2014 by dwightcharles

[dwightcharles 12]

sure.

since your family is extricating themselves from an old geezer in florida

and you need the monies for their daily expenses,

you really should take the job in April,

work until school starts

then go to school, telling your employer to put you on the weekend shift.

all of this requires careful studying of a calendar, but I feel that since you want to get monies to yer mom and siblings, to get extracted from that old geezer in Florida,

you'll do what you can to help them.

April to end of july is 4 months - that's 4 months yer out of the house, sending them monies. Win-Win, both areas.

lol. hahaha

Thats actually what I wanted to do. I can utilize the 4 months to see if being a flight attendant is really for me. And your right I can still offer financial support to my family and at the same time be able to move out and be on my own. This will also be a great opportunity for me to prepare myself being all independent and alone in New York when the time comes I study at Parsons!

Weeeeh.

Thank you soooo much.

[NY_BX 397]

OMG!!! So you go to the New School too? OMG. That is awesome.

Thank you sooooo much. I will do my best. I will wait for the scholarship winner announcement. But if only I had all the money in the world, I will definitely pick Parsons over Flight Attendant career without no second thoughts.

I wasn't able to include it in my original post but one of the reason as well why being a flight attendant to me is also very important because right now, I am helping my mom and the whole family with our finances. If I go to school full time, I may not earn a lot even if I have a part time job on the side. That is why I am also really considering becoming a flight attendant so I can continually support my family, in my own little way with our financial situation.

But I guess, Education really is very important. I know I can achieve and do more if I go to school. This is a big step for me. I will do my very best and stand strong for what I believe is best for me and my family. In the long haul, I know getting my education at Parsons will be of more benefit not just for me but as well as for my family!

Thank you guys. and I hope to see you one day in New York or maybe in the New School campus.

When applying to the scholarship and financial aid, let them know you want work-study. TNS has many vacancies for students. Plus, you're in the NYC!

Hope you can make it. I'll be happy to show you around. It really is a wonderful school and an epic experience.

[dwightcharles 12]

When applying to the scholarship and financial aid, let them know you want work-study. TNS has many vacancies for students. Plus, you're in the NYC!

Hope you can make it. I'll be happy to show you around. It really is a wonderful school and an epic experience.

WAAAH. Im super excited. Yup I noticed that on my financial aid package. There was work study scholarship on it. It would be my pleasure to work part-time for the school if this would mean lesser money to pay. hehe

Im soo excited. I will make the most out of my stay here. Have you heard of the New School Competition? That is the scholarship competition I joined. Im crossing my fingers.

[Darnell 8,479]

lol. hahaha

Thats actually what I wanted to do. I can utilize the 4 months to see if being a flight attendant is really for me. And your right I can still offer financial support to my family and at the same time be able to move out and be on my own. This will also be a great opportunity for me to prepare myself being all independent and alone in New York when the time comes I study at Parsons!

Weeeeh.

Thank you soooo much.

great. so get back to post #17, pull out a calendar,

and start studying a calendar,

matching activities to calendar dates

and then maybe you'll learn that

you can do all, during the year.

but do, I beg of you, restudy post #17.

[dwightcharles 12]

great. so get back to post #17, pull out a calendar,

and start studying a calendar,

matching activities to calendar dates

and then maybe you'll learn that

you can do all, during the year.

but do, I beg of you, restudy post #17.

lol. Yup. will do. Thanks again.

[woohoo25 28]

It's such a personal question, I think the only person that can answer that question is you. If being a flight attendant is something you've always wanted and will regret it if you don't then do it first. If school is importnata to you do that first. It depends on what your priority is. Having said that a degree is not very useful in a career in art, It just teaches you to talk about art, and maybe gives you a place where people critique your work. If you think thats a direction you think you should take your art career then go for it.

[Rebecca621 19]

I'm a flight attendant. You spend a lot of time flying and away from family and mostly in hotels however you fly everywhere and get the perks of flying free. Some people love the job or hate it. I'd say go to school... Flying will always be there even if you decide down the road to do it part time.

[Married4Life13 38]

Just a bit of advice from personal experience...try to keep your student loans to a minimum. They will haunt you for years even decades after you graduate!

[Ortolan 381]

Go to school. You'll regret this opportunity if you pass it up. Work this summer somewhere else; you don't want to go through the airline training program only to quit after 4 months. That would look kind of bad.

If you still want to be a flight attendant after you finish college, you can always re-apply for a flight attendant position. Your chances look good since you were so easily offered the job before; sounds like you've got the poise and smarts to try again if you want. Getting a scholarship to Parsons is nothing to toss away.