The SIA Job Interview
Well, it seems like I haven't been updating my blog for ages. I'm still alive and well, just that I guess even with the multitude of thoughts and issues that's been running through my head these past few months, they have been relatively happy ones for me. The period since I returned from exchange have been really great for me; given me much to appreciate for in Singapore.
So what brings me to this tired old blog? Well, as expected, I had to air out my thoughts and put them into words. It has to be something big enough for me to want to revisit this place after such a long haitus. It has to be disturbing enough in my mind that even friends and family do little to alleviate it.
Last week, in view that it will be my final semester in SMU, I started seriously considering all the possible companies I will cold-send my resumes to. Top of that list was a job that I knew doesn't fit with the Accountancy degree that I was taking. But I had to send the application in. I owed it to myself, my FT prof, and lots of random friends, some of whom prolly won't even remember that I made such a promise to them.
I put in an application for cadet pilot in SIA.
It's a job I've always dreamt of since I was a kid. I mean, it's one of those airy-fairy things you dream of when you're five. Jobs that demand a certain amount of "air" (no pun intended), a certain dignity to them. Jobs that place ideals of heroism, determination and calm. I'm sure you've had such dream jobs before: policeman, fireman, astronaut and the less glamourous cousin rocket scientist. And pilot. Every boy must have dreamt of being one at least once in their lives.
For me, the thought that man created a machine that can take to the skies will always fill me with wonder. It is a wonder that makes me want to be up in front of the plane, looking out and seeing clouds and blue skies around me. There is something about flying, something magical about sitting amongst clouds.
I only found out about the Singapore Youth Flying Club when I was in JC 2. A booth was set up early in the year to promote it as a CCA. However, when I asked about it, I was told that if I qualified for the Private Pilot's License course, I would not be able to complete the course before my A levels came around. Between chasing my dream and scoring good grades, I did what any other Singaporean student would do.
I re-looked the requirements for joining the YFC when I entered university. I wasn't well-integrated into SMUX yet, so I was considering all options available for possible CCAs. However, when I called YFC up to enquire further, I was told that my PES C status in army automatically disqualifies me from the YFC program.
So there you go. All the times I thought I could chase my dream, my hopes were dashed. This application to SIA is the last time I would think of pursuing this dream. My accounting degree and OM major should put me in good stead in the corporate world, enough for me to establish a career and climb the ladder. It's not the end of the world if my hopes get dashed again.
However, seeing the email from SIA's HR department arranging an interview for the cadet pilot position filled me with dread. It occurred to me that all this while I'd been simply following the motions of chasing my dream. But now that SIA's letting me have a shot at being a pilot, I also realise that if I fail now, I will have to banish all thoughts of ever becoming a pilot and focus on a career in accounting or operations management. I get butterflies in my stomach thinking how a part of my childhood that had fervently wished to become a pilot might die off after the interview.
Right now, I must sound so idealistic, so naive, so dreamy. Many others have kissed parts of their childhood goodbye, and a good handful of them at ages much younger than I am now. So what's the big deal? I don't know. But it's sad when you lose your innocence and you don't even realise it. It's sadder still when you knowingly lose your innocence. -Jimmy
So what brings me to this tired old blog? Well, as expected, I had to air out my thoughts and put them into words. It has to be something big enough for me to want to revisit this place after such a long haitus. It has to be disturbing enough in my mind that even friends and family do little to alleviate it.
Last week, in view that it will be my final semester in SMU, I started seriously considering all the possible companies I will cold-send my resumes to. Top of that list was a job that I knew doesn't fit with the Accountancy degree that I was taking. But I had to send the application in. I owed it to myself, my FT prof, and lots of random friends, some of whom prolly won't even remember that I made such a promise to them.
I put in an application for cadet pilot in SIA.
It's a job I've always dreamt of since I was a kid. I mean, it's one of those airy-fairy things you dream of when you're five. Jobs that demand a certain amount of "air" (no pun intended), a certain dignity to them. Jobs that place ideals of heroism, determination and calm. I'm sure you've had such dream jobs before: policeman, fireman, astronaut and the less glamourous cousin rocket scientist. And pilot. Every boy must have dreamt of being one at least once in their lives.
For me, the thought that man created a machine that can take to the skies will always fill me with wonder. It is a wonder that makes me want to be up in front of the plane, looking out and seeing clouds and blue skies around me. There is something about flying, something magical about sitting amongst clouds.
I only found out about the Singapore Youth Flying Club when I was in JC 2. A booth was set up early in the year to promote it as a CCA. However, when I asked about it, I was told that if I qualified for the Private Pilot's License course, I would not be able to complete the course before my A levels came around. Between chasing my dream and scoring good grades, I did what any other Singaporean student would do.
I re-looked the requirements for joining the YFC when I entered university. I wasn't well-integrated into SMUX yet, so I was considering all options available for possible CCAs. However, when I called YFC up to enquire further, I was told that my PES C status in army automatically disqualifies me from the YFC program.
So there you go. All the times I thought I could chase my dream, my hopes were dashed. This application to SIA is the last time I would think of pursuing this dream. My accounting degree and OM major should put me in good stead in the corporate world, enough for me to establish a career and climb the ladder. It's not the end of the world if my hopes get dashed again.
However, seeing the email from SIA's HR department arranging an interview for the cadet pilot position filled me with dread. It occurred to me that all this while I'd been simply following the motions of chasing my dream. But now that SIA's letting me have a shot at being a pilot, I also realise that if I fail now, I will have to banish all thoughts of ever becoming a pilot and focus on a career in accounting or operations management. I get butterflies in my stomach thinking how a part of my childhood that had fervently wished to become a pilot might die off after the interview.
Right now, I must sound so idealistic, so naive, so dreamy. Many others have kissed parts of their childhood goodbye, and a good handful of them at ages much younger than I am now. So what's the big deal? I don't know. But it's sad when you lose your innocence and you don't even realise it. It's sadder still when you knowingly lose your innocence. -Jimmy
posted by Jimmy at 4:12 PM
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