Yikes! If the steps to becoming a profressional pilot seem daunting, I might say it's like eating a really big steak...one bite at a time. The don't think about tomorrow thing shouldn't be taken to mean you should go to the expensive shiny jet university, because they told you that you will be making LOTS of money in the future, right? And the pilot shortage thing, too, I bet? Wrong. And the money thing will likely take AWHILE.

I know folks (yes, plural!) with six figure (or near six figs) debt from pursuing flying.. I would most definitely think about the future, I realize Pearl Pilot touched on that with the four year degree thing, but dang. Flying is great, but it literally can ruin you financially if you are not careful. Far too many people live for today, and forget what they have to pay tomorrow. Shoot, if all else fails, get a job in anything else, and fly for FUN! What a concept!