Life is full of risks no matter what you do. You can do one of two things. Take the risk, or sit back and be full of regret when years later you miss a chance. I could have easily gone into a trade union's apprenticeship out of highschool and easily been making a decent living as a carpenter or welder right now but choose to be the first in my family to go to college. I had to work my way through a Catholic Highschool because I'd likely be dead had I gone to my public school. Paid my way through college, and have relatively little debt as a result of that. Hard work and struggle is nothing new to me. And to be honest, it has never bothered me.

I knew what I was getting myself into 6 years ago. I had no idea of payscales and to this day don't know if I really want to fly for an airline, but there are lots of other jobs in aviation. Right now I'm enjoying instructing, and it's paying the bills. In that respect I'm very lucky. I'm working a second job, and typing on this fourm at 1am on a Monday morning from my second job at an FBO. I don't have a family, or other obligations right now so why not get myself out of debt, and build a little cushion now so that if the worst happens I'm not out on the street. If all else fails, I'll start building houses. Oh wait, that bubble is about to burst too...

I think this is about the third time we've had this convo skyhigh.