Flying high - Andrew's story
I remember the day when my younger sister and I were taken into foster care; we left our dad and brothers in Croydon for a week in order to give them some space to deal with the recent death of our mum. We sat in a car with a social worker not knowing where we were going or what to say as well as being scared of what might be waiting for us at the end of our journey.
When we arrived, on the Isle of Sheppey, we were greeted with friendly smiles and made to feel welcome by our new foster parents, they could have been family. They told us all about themselves and let us know what they had planned for us in the coming week, which helped us relax.
One of the most memorable and kindest events from my time in foster care came when I was at college, preparing to leave care at 18. I remember coming home to find the garage being converted into a bedroom for me so that I could stay with my foster family until I moved out for university, aged 20.
The new bedroom also meant that I could stay at college. I had worked very hard to get there after a dramatic turnaround at school; I was on the verge of being expelled when, during a careers week I met a new friend who was determined to become an RAF pilot. His enthusiasm grabbed me immediately and later that week I joined the Air Training Corps with him, with the same ambition.
The turning point
This was a huge turning point for me. It gave me a goal to work towards and the squadron instilled self-discipline, integrity and leadership skills which helped me immensely. At the same time my foster carers were providing me with a relaxed and caring environment which kept me on track. I ended up becoming head boy at my school as well as completing my GCSEs and thus gaining entry to college. From there I went on to university where I joined Southampton University Air Squadron and began my journey to becoming a pilot.
After university I found work at a local airfield with a flying school. I started sweeping out the aircraft hangars and quickly made connections at the flying school that enabled me to continue taking flying lessons. The first lesson was an experience like no other, applying full power and climbing into the air. Leaving the ground below is something that no imagination can prepare you for.
I am now a fully qualified pilot which, at points, was a distant goal and it came with plenty of struggles and challenges.
I hope this blog will be read by young people who might have gone through some similar experiences to me and I would urge them to never lose sight of their goals and never give up.
As long it's realistic and you really want it, you can achieve it.
