2 answers
Esther
Student
Janesville, Wisconsin
2
Questions
Updated
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What are some helpful time management habits?
How do I thrive as someone going into aviation and aircraft maintenance? How do I manage the intensity of learning while taking care of my physical and mental well-being?
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2 answers
Justin Ko
Aircraft Mechanic
10
Answers
Upland, California
Updated
Justin’s Answer
Hi Esther,
I'm not sure about your current personal life/school life balance, but when I was in A&P school, I was trying to balance full-time work with night school A&P and also trying to stay fit and healthy. My schedule was something like this: work from 8am-430pm, class from 530pm-1115pm, home by 1130, sleep for 6 hours and do it again, every M-F. I did okay with the grind for about 6 months before I started to feel burnt out. I was scared to ask for help, but eventually I had to have a conversation with my boss about needing some better balance, and it turned out that she was more than happy to work with me on finding something that worked better for me. I ended up moving a couple of work days to the weekends and that gave me more free time during the week where I could focus on me. The remaining year of school was a blur and before I knew it, I was packing up and moving to a new city for my first job.
I think my advice to you would be not to be afraid to tell those around you that you are struggling. Most of the time, the good people in your life will be happy to work with you to help you balance your obligations. Just remember that everyone needs help sometimes, and it's totally okay to ask for it when you need it.
Best of luck!
I'm not sure about your current personal life/school life balance, but when I was in A&P school, I was trying to balance full-time work with night school A&P and also trying to stay fit and healthy. My schedule was something like this: work from 8am-430pm, class from 530pm-1115pm, home by 1130, sleep for 6 hours and do it again, every M-F. I did okay with the grind for about 6 months before I started to feel burnt out. I was scared to ask for help, but eventually I had to have a conversation with my boss about needing some better balance, and it turned out that she was more than happy to work with me on finding something that worked better for me. I ended up moving a couple of work days to the weekends and that gave me more free time during the week where I could focus on me. The remaining year of school was a blur and before I knew it, I was packing up and moving to a new city for my first job.
I think my advice to you would be not to be afraid to tell those around you that you are struggling. Most of the time, the good people in your life will be happy to work with you to help you balance your obligations. Just remember that everyone needs help sometimes, and it's totally okay to ask for it when you need it.
Best of luck!
Thank you for this, Justin! I appreciate you sharing your experience. I will definitely be sure to ask for help when I need it so I can balance the grind.
Esther
Wayne Johnson
Maintenance Programs, FAA Part 121
108
Answers
Auburn, Washington
Updated
Wayne’s Answer
Esther: What you are doing right now is looking at the whole aircraft and getting overwhelmed by what you see.
What you need to remember is that you had to "crawl" then "walk" before you could run. When you start taking classes for your Aviation Mechanics License, (FAA A&P) License, you will be given small pieces information at a time, they will not tell you to go and disassemble the engine, etc. on your first day. When I taught aviation classes at the community college level, we spent 10 weeks at 5 hours a day (approximately 3 hours of lecture and 2 hours of study or working on various skills or projects in the shop, (i.e. how to safety wire, sheet metal repair, basic use of hand tools, etc.). Just relax and take everything on piece at a time and don't get overwhelmed. Don't try and do too much at one time.
Any other questions ask again.
Enjoy your experience. Wayne
What you need to remember is that you had to "crawl" then "walk" before you could run. When you start taking classes for your Aviation Mechanics License, (FAA A&P) License, you will be given small pieces information at a time, they will not tell you to go and disassemble the engine, etc. on your first day. When I taught aviation classes at the community college level, we spent 10 weeks at 5 hours a day (approximately 3 hours of lecture and 2 hours of study or working on various skills or projects in the shop, (i.e. how to safety wire, sheet metal repair, basic use of hand tools, etc.). Just relax and take everything on piece at a time and don't get overwhelmed. Don't try and do too much at one time.
Any other questions ask again.
Enjoy your experience. Wayne
Thank you so much for the advice.
Esther