I wanted to become an ATCO, so I learnt to fly in order to get the necessary aviation background for entry to an adult entry ATCO course. My PPL experience proved invaluable during my 39 year career. The only regret was in not being allowed to stay at my initial aerodrome posting long enough to complete my CPL studies and take advantage of the plenty of part-time commercial flying available there. It is a mystery as to where I may have ended up if I hadn't been posted to a radar centre so soon?