When you sign up to become a flight attendant, the FAA requires that you and your fellow trainees must complete all required sessions at the same time without missing a single spoken word, video played, or action defined. Once you realize the length and depth of the knowledge that must be attained it can be a bit overwhelming. Just consider for a moment that most travelers feel the flight attendants are only there to "sweeten the ride" or serve the juices, or better yet ensure my comfort.
What is hidden beneath the shiny smiling faces is the incredible amount of stamina these ladies and gentlemen have mustered to conquer the twenty-five (25) straight days of grueling hours spent watching film, reading books, practicing CPR & First Aide, commanding frantic passengers through thick smoke and flames, just to be "eye candy".
Some trainees have to overcome even more because of pressures, and life-as-normal back with their families. One of my fellow trainees is going through the ultimate challenge today, and in the coming days. Her father died yesterday.
Now his death comes as no surprise, he was in failing health when she interviewed, and continued to deteriorate throughout the confirmation processes. Before she left home, nearly 10 days ago now, they had a deep conversation about what she would do IF his time ended before she earned her wings. She made a promise to him that she would complete this course as a testament to his will.
I have a new-found respect for this particular classmate. She is maintaining her composure as she completes each assignment and activity with a smile on her face. Now don't think she is not suffering, on the contrary, she will break down at various times and start to cry over the loss, but our trainers are very conscious of this and will declare a ten (10) minutes potty break to allow all in the room to mourn with our new friend.
God places people in our lives for only a season, just a season. What we do, and how we do it with them is up to us.
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