After a slew of outflows to change my condition here, I am sort of in wait mode. Since making the decision to take an indefinite hiatus from the airline industry (and that is the best description for it as I am not giving up on it forever) to pursue my CPA, I have been on the phone, on the internet, pushing through red tape, etc to get and keep things on track for a pre-Christmas resignation.
To make a VERY long story short, here is where I stand:
1. I have secured a private pilot student and am actively working with him to get his license. We have agreed that payment will be the right for me to fly his airplane for the cost of fuel. This is the best option I have right now to stay in the air post airlines. And I must stay in the air - its just too important to me.
2. I have spoken to a flight school at Winter Haven airport, ate lunch with the staff, and have been accepted as a part time instructor at their school. The problem is that they have many more instructors than they have students right now. So, the chances of getting some flying out of this option are pretty slim right now. I am waiting to see my name pop up on their instructor list and feel that I will have to keep nagging them to see the administration part completed. I think since they do not need anyone, it isn’t too important to get me signed up. However, I would like to be on the list because it will make me feel like there is a line for potential students to find me. I will continue to push the point, with tact, until the goal is reached.
3. I am accepted back to USF as an FSR (former student returning). The downside to this is that my registration date is after all the current continuing students have registered. The result of this is that ALL the accounting classes I need are completely full and closed. This has caused me great stress. I spent a long time in research, talking to many different departments within the university and have determined that this is the best I can do. The good news is that I need 4 classes that are just filler classes, that have nothing to do with accounting. So, my goal right now is to register for 4 classes (doesn’t matter much what they are), then PUSH LIKE HELL and exhaust every option to get into at least one of the closed accounting classes. Even if this involves driving to one of the other, less crowded, campuses. I will do what I have to do. Assuming I can secure this, I will have 5 classes towards the CPA - a respectable load by anyone’s estimation. I cannot register until Dec 4th at 1:00pm, so for now, I am waiting. The next semester, I will have preferential registration status again. Furthermore, there is a medical hold on my account right now for some immunization paperwork. I have sent the paperwork in and am waiting for the hold to be released.
4. The December bid packet comes out in 6 days. Armed with this knowledge, and the final bid awards which will be issued Dec 21st, I will be able to determine the best day to resign and will tender my notice shortly afterward. I am in the process of bringing my St. Louis stuff home, a little at a time, every time I make the commute, such that when I leave for the last time, I will have nothing left up there (clothes, etc).
5. I am still waiting for my student loan to get approved. They are telling me that my part is done and that they are talking with my school to work out the details. I cannot seem to get an answer from a real person what is going on. The total cost of the CPA will be 8,000 bucks or so, so not a huge deal. But, I am trying for the loan for cash flow reasons.
6. The thought of not working at all doesn’t sit well with me. On paper, it will work. But it will be tough to see our savings slowly being breached. The cause is noble and with the income potential I will have when the deed is done, I will more than make up for the cost. However, my plan is to potentially secure “something” part time that I can do to trickle in some money while doing this endeavor. But, if I am slammed with classes and cannot make that happen, then it is alright. Life will continue. I will figure out a way to make it all go right and Joanna will do her part.
Thats about it.