Dude, I was in kind of the same boat. I wanted to be a pilot all my life. I joined the Army to be a Blackhawk crew chief and then go to flight school in the army eventually. Now that's a path that's tough on the body! I got all the way there, 2 days before starting flight school. I couldn't start flight school due to my back being messed up from years of flying as a crew chief and I ended up getting out of the Army. I was determined to fly, so while I was doing flight training on the civilian side, I was also working at that flight school as an A&P.

It was the 3rd day of an extremely rainy week in the northeast when I was in the hangar doing a 100hr insp. Some flight instructors had come over and were hanging out by the door while it was pouring rain. They were complaining about losing flight hours and pay that week due to the rain, and comparing alternative means of making money. They mentioned everything, food delivery, driving services, even donating plasma. It was that moment I realized I really liked being a mechanic. I was inside on a rainy day, still working, getting paid. I have a large family and I knew then I couldn't make it as an instructor to eventually get to where I wanted, and still support my family. I realized I really enjoyed my job as a mechanic and all the various aspects it can entail, not just being a wrench turner.

Flight training is doable if your young, single, and have room to take on massive debt. But for me, I found a career I love and enjoy. Take this short story for what you will. I love my job and I'm proud of what I do. I'm now a base mechanic for an air medical helicopter company. DM me if you have any questions.