Originally Posted by
calcapt
Only you can answer this question. In five years will you be able to look up and see the beautiful contrails overhead and accept the fact that you chose something safe and secure? If, on the other hand you would have regrets that the person in the cockpit is not you, perhaps you should go for it. I personally think the anquish and regrets for an entire lifetime are far worse than making $16,000 your first year. Sure there is a price to pay and risk involved, but how do you accomplish anything truly worthwhile without either? If Benjamin Franklin, Orville and Wilbur, Thomas Jefferson and many others said "this seems crazy to me", we would all be living very different lives. Airlines will continue to hire pilots to fly their airplanes. The question is: Will you be the one flying them or the one on the ground wishing you were? Good Luck!
Calcapt,
I hate to contradict your brilliant post, however it is often the case that famous people in history lead train wreck personal lives. It demands a high price to achieve greatness. People need to realize what they will have to give up in order to become a Ben Franklin or Abe Lincoln. The 9 to 5 stooge gets a lot in return for supplanting a few dreams. The pain of a failed dream will fade over time however a failed life will haunt you to the grave.
In my opinion often the pursuit of youthful frivolous dreams is natures way of culling the herd.
SkyHigh