Originally Posted by
trechan
Howdy guys, I'm a PPL (18yr old) at Central Texas College learning Aviation Science. I am (like many others) pursuing the (awful) career of becoming an airline pilot. I'll spare you the "it's been my dream ever since..."
Like many other industries, aviation isn't ever the most stable industry. In the last 13 years, we've seen the results of de regulation, and a failing economy take toll on many of our airlines. Additionally, it isn't uncommon to find a pilot who had failed his medical for one reason or another.
I'll be honest, I haven't a clue what to choose for a fall back/back up plan. I look at these majors and I think "Wow, Liberal Arts. Not a chance." and "Engineering, I'm not very good in math." Which is quite concerning, considering I've just killed off a lot of areas. Law school didn't sound too interesting after I was in debate for two years in high school. As for medical, I believe that humans are disgusting, I'd rather just keep my germs to myself. Well, now that I've pretty much eliminated every cliche, the topic is now open for flaming or advice.
As a CTC graduate myself, I understand what you are going through. I had the exact some thoughts until I finally got out of Killeen and realized it was more where I was at vs. what I wanted to do with my life. Killeen Ft Hood is a dump, no other way to put it. There is absolutely no aviation there and never will be. I graduated and immediately left and moved to Houston to do my CFI II on one of those quick programs, got hired by said flight school and got to work. One day someone shows up in a Citation asking if I wanted a better job....and the rest is history.
You are too young and too far out of the industry to really get a good scope on it. It is not all doom and gloom, only here on apf. Finish college, go flight instruct elsewhere and work your way into a job, even if airline. If you don't like that game then network your way into a corporate job like I did.
Pm if you want to talk more in depth.