KAYKAY

Wings of Ambition: From Blog to Cockpit, A Dreamer’s Journey

I’ve never considered myself much of a writer, let alone a blogger. Yet, here I am embarking on this new journey to hold myself accountable as I navigate the path to becoming a pilot. You see, I’m what you might call a type ‘A’ procrastinator—a master at delaying tasks until the very last moment, thriving on the pressure of imminent deadlines. But tasks without clear deadlines, those with less severe consequences, often struggle to capture my attention.

The spark for this blog came from the movie ‘Julie & Julia’, a personal favorite of mine. Inspired by Julie, who chronicles her culinary adventures through a French cookbook, I too seek to find purpose in my own journey. Like her, I don’t expect to have an audience; I write for myself, as a means to give my life direction and meaning. Through her story, I find resonance in the idea of using a blog as a tool for self-discovery and growth amidst life’s challenges and relationships.

I must have been around seven when I took my first flight—a big deal for a middle-class Indian family like mine. I was instantly hooked by the thrill of flying high in the sky, watching clouds drift by, and getting a toy as a kid—it became a cherished memory. My mom and I had this sweet tradition of visiting the cockpit after every flight to thank the pilots, giving me a peek into the magic of airplanes. I always dreamed of being a pilot, even writing it down in every slam book I had. But when I talked to my parents about it later on, we had a frank discussion about the cost, and I ended up studying Electronics and Communication engineering instead, without really exploring other options. I could have looked into other possibilities such as Aeronautical engineering, which could have made it close for me to achieve my dream in the future. But hey, like I mentioned, I did not do my research and convinced myself that it wasn’t meant to be.

For those who know me well, it’s no secret—I’m incredibly spontaneous and impulsive. Life decisions? I rarely give them much thought. No five-year or ten-year plans, no budget tracking, no effort in seeking out dream jobs or apartments. I’ve pretty much winged it through adulthood. From choosing my engineering major to moving to the US for my master’s, heck- even packing up my things and moving from LA to Toronto in the blink of an eye- every decision has been impulsive and quick. But this time feels different. It is different.

I have had the dream to become a pilot since I can remember what the idea of a job is. For someone who thinks of something and does it almost immediately, I have never really made any effort towards looking into becoming a pilot. My gut tells me that if I genuinely put my heart and soul into it, and I don’t become a pilot at the end of it, I would be absolutely devastated. I am a very emotional person, and I always look at things as all or nothing. This blog is an experiment for me to document my journey towards getting my dream job. I have absolutely no idea where to start, the books, the YouTube videos, Google Searches, ChatGPT are all TOO overwhelming. But hey, you gotta start somewhere, right?

I’m excited to begin my adventure, one mile at a time. So here goes nothing!