To all the burnt out CFIs

Almost 10 years ago I had the privilege of taking my first flight lesson. The road that led me to where I am now was anything but straight. It was filled with uncertainty, tough decisions and multiple 180 career changes but I always came back to aviation.

Just like everyone else here I celebrated when I passed and drowned myself with self doubt when I didn’t.

1300hrs of dual given later, I can’t even tell you how many times I felt burnt out ready to quit. But then I remember I was once in that left seat, in that student’s shoes, paying a lot of money, sometimes even their life’s savings. We owe them the best aviation has to offer. Don’t let your passion and what led you to choose this as a career be overshadowed by stress and repetition.

Don’t let the grind cost you personal relationships and self care, I get it seniority is really important but part of me will always regret not taking more time enjoying that cross country a little bit more, going to get that 100$ hamburger (more like 300$ now), teaching that student some cool stuff outside the bare minimum.

All this is to tell you just enjoy the road, work on honing your skills, appreciate the friends you make along the way. I will always wish I could have spent some more time with close friends i lost to this hobby. Be the instructor and mentor you never had.