Food for thought

Recently, my training started again after a long break. I was very afraid few days before the training, so I asked my partner, who will be accompanying me for the rest of my training to practise together with me at AA academy. There're few reasons why we have to work extra hard. For one thing, it helps us to recall what we'd learnt during the last training and for another, due to lack of co-operation and practice in the last training, we thought it would be nice to practise in order to improve our performance and communication.

So the first day of a new training has finally arrived. Though both of us were pretty much frightened by it, we knew that we had no choice but to face it and move on. Then we met our instructor and we went to briefing room to have some discussions before the session started. So the food of thought which I would like to share with you guys will be the things I heard from this instructor the moment our conversation started.

The first question he asked was "do you guys have any questions?" I thought he's referring to our training so I asked a technical question. Strangely, he said this "just put aside your training at this moment. Let's ask something more interesting like how your career path will be like in few years time from now." "Do you want to know how is it gonna be like? Are you interested to know?" Without considering much, me and my partner nodded our head and were eagerly waiting to know what kind of answer he would give.

"If you work hard from now on, it's not at all a problem to be promoted to fly WIDE body aircraft in two years time. And in five years time, you'll have HIGH chance to be promoted to become CAPTAIN." this's what he told us. He then continue "I felt sad to see that many of you guys today FAIL to see this OPPORTUNITY, with all the poor performances many of you showed, it's in fact a SADDENING scene to look at !!!" After hearing what he'd said, I felt so ashamed, I felt so useless because I was one of them who failed to see this opportunity. It's really a wake-up call for me to PULL MY SOCKS UP!!

"Do you realise that you're now working with the best low cost airline in the world and is also one of the leading airlines among all its competitors?" "Some people say AA is far from it, some say AA is close to becoming one, but I say AA is GETTING THERE." Again, a rude awakening for me because I truly have neglected the fact that AA is indeed a highly reputable company.

"You guys should cut down all your entertainment for the sake of this training. Reduce your night life, party and all that." After that he started to share with us about his stories in the past. He said "I was jobless for few years before I landed a job in AA. At that time I was a DJ in disco. I'd been working in many different pubs and discos and there is not a single pub in KL which I don't know. I'd seen people partying, dancing and doing all sorts of crazy and funny things in the pub at night.

They thought they're happy. But no, they're not, because eventually the pub will close early morning and all lights will out, the curtain will fall and the show will be over. There they were, not knowing that the SUN WILL STILL RISE IN THE MORNING AND THEY STILL NEED TO FACE REALITY. That's why, those who refuse to face reality hate the sun, when sun rises they'll go to bed until the sun sets, until everything is in darkness, because the SUN REFLECTS REALITY" With that, I really couldn't agree with what he said anymore because I WAS ONCE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. Anyway, it's over now and that period of time was truly the darkest days in my life.

"Guys, I WILL MAKE SURE I GIVE MY HUNDRED PERCENT IN TEACHING YOU, BUT I EXPECT YOU TO PUT IN HUNDRED AND FIFTY PERCENT OF EFFORT TO LEARN, HAVE I MADE MYSELF CLEAR?" "WORK HARD FOR TODAY, BECAUSE THINGS ARE GETTING HARDER TOMORROW, AND YOU'LL REALISE MANY THE TIMES THINGS ARE ALWAYS EASIER TODAY THAN TOMORROW!!" At once, I captured the importance of working hard and I swore to myself I will DO WHAT I HAVE PROMISED, TO GIVE MY HEART AND SOUL FOR THIS TRAINING.

Dear all who is reading this, I urge you, no matter what thing you do, in your studies or working, please put in 150 percent effort because in the end of the day, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT YOU ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO GAIN.

Guys, let's ENDEAVOUR for a better future and KEEP PRESSING ON.