Originally Posted by
asims33
I am only 20 years old, ive jumped hurdles and moved mountains to finish my flight training and ill be dammed if i let some bitter old capitain sit here and disrespect me and other young pilots by saying we havent payed our dues...Hell just finishing training is almost impossible nowadays, flight schools trying to rip you off, greedy examiners, bad weather, terrible economy, high fuel prices, bad hiring market, and to beat it all the more experiance pilots like some of you are so bitter you wont even look in the direction of a student pilot or a new pilot let alone help them or give them advice.
I'm glad that you're so proud of yourself for getting your ratings. Although I disagree that it as akin to moving mountains, I do remember having that sense of accomplishment and it is fine to feel that way.
There are midlife career changers that were quite accomplished in their former fields. There are also young folks like you that apparently had to work hard to fund your training. However, no matter where you came from or how you got there,
getting your ratings is not paying your dues. I'm sure that you've heard the saying about your tickets are your license to learn. To add to that, your ratings simply make it legal for you to
START paying your dues.