Fighter Pilot Dreams
Nicole Malachowski |
I had wanted to become a fighter pilot since I was 5 years old. I spent elementary school, junior high, and high school almost maniacally focused on this goal. Joining youth programs like the Air Force Junior ROTC helped me stay focused on my goals during the tumultuous teenage years and even provided me with scholarships to pay for flight lessons. The military life and a career in aviation was all I ever wanted, and it was all I ever knew. But, as we all know, life can throw you curveballs which can change the course of your journey forever. When I fell unexpectedly ill and had to medically retire from the Air Force after 21+ years of honorable service, I had to completely readjust my focus, shift my dreams, and reinvent myself anew. Here’s the thing, it’s okay for your end target to change. In fact, it can be quite exhilarating if you so choose. Comment below about a time when you had to change course and readjust your focus and dreams.