"19 and Flying a Jet" eh? The screen name doesn't indicate much imagination now, does it?
Some of the self financed trainee guys are good, and keen. Some are not.
Like this guy the other day, at FL350 During a quiet time ...
Me: "So how did you get into flying then?"
Him: "Well... I was lying in bed one morning, around 1130, and I thought it was time I did something with my life, so I went and borrowed £120,000 from mother, and here I am!"
Accompanied by supercilious grin.
I couldn't decide which of his eyes to stick my pen into.
He wasn't keen, he wasn't competent, he was crap. He wasn't bothered whether he passed or failed.
In the olden days, he might just have been weeded out at an earlier stage.
Like I said, I've no problem with keen guys willing to learn, but the type above are becoming more prevalent.