“My journey into aviation certainly isn’t a traditional one. I had spent a number of years in college studying to become a teacher but decided to take some time off after getting an Associate’s degree so that I could save money and ensure I was doing what I wanted. I’ve stocked shelves; I’ve worked in restaurants; I’ve sharpened skates and worked with hockey equipment; I’ve held multiple office jobs; I’ve stocked shelves for several years at a grocery store. Flying and heights in general were my biggest fears in life and something I made an effort to avoid.
As I grew older and into my late twenties, I found myself feeling disappointed I had not lived up to the potential I knew that I had. No offense meant to the grocery store industry, but it wasn’t what I saw myself doing for an extended period of time. Aviation is something I had always been intrigued by, but my fears and the feeling that I wasn’t intelligent enough to pursue it had held me away from it. For fear of missing out on one of the true marvels of life, I scheduled an introductory flight at a local flight school to see if I could stomach it. Less than two years later, I am a licensed pilot in training to get a commercial license, and I’ve been offered a position in flight instructing once I complete my commercial rating.
Close attention to detail, critical thinking, problem-solving, and following directions are some of the skills pilots employ during every flight, and I believe that the foundation of those skills and even some advanced strategies are taught to us during our schooling. School may seem like a grind sometimes, but high school prepares you well for life after school. Nanticoke has some of the most caring and brilliant teachers you could ever hope for and I am very thankful to have learned from them; I would not be where I am now without them.
I like to share my story with others because for me, flying felt like something I could simply never do. But with a bit of encouragement from others and an urgency to better myself, I took one small step and changed my life forever. My story isn’t one just about aviation: it could apply to anyone with a dream or a goal in life that they feel is unobtainable. There will be plenty of obstacles along the way, but if you are truly determined to do something, you absolutely will. Hard work and determination are something we are all capable of, and if you are truly motivated to do something or see yourself somewhere, you can get there. Don’t let barriers deter you from pursuing your dreams, even if you have to slow down a little to achieve them. Never stop reaching. Never stop looking for what is just over the horizon.”
Matt Szmal, 2012
Instrument-Rated Private Pilot
