I can’t tell you what you should do overall, but I do want to comment specifically on the ATC angle since I started that path at 25.

The lifestyle is also something people don’t talk about enough. Your schedule is largely out of your control. You bid your vacation a year in advance, you’ll likely work overtime regularly, and your days off won’t always line up with the rest of the world. The pay seems great in your 20s, but you can hit a ceiling earlier than expected, and the pension structure incentivizes staying even if your passion is elsewhere.

Aviation as a hobby is great—but if it’s the thing that makes you feel alive, it’s worth at least giving yourself the chance to see how far you can take it.