GB68c
If you're sure flying is really, really, really the only thing you want to do with your life - then in my opinion you should get on with it.
What's the point of having a back-up plan if using it will just make you wish you were flying?
Have you noticed how the really successful people in life usually have risked everything, ie, taken a gamble in life, and didn't have a back up plan? Do you think Madonna had a back up plan?
Remember, while you're at Uni dreaming of flying, there will be others of your age flying fighters in the airforce and starting on their careers in the airlines. Will you be envious?
Also, if you finish your degree, then go to OATS, and for some reason it doesn't work out, what brilliant career is your slightly out of date geography degree going to bring you? Will it bring you fulfillment in life?
My views are probably somewhat controversial, and not what someone of my advancing years should be telling you. They only apply if you're 100% committed to flying as a way of earning a living, complete with all its hardships and frustrations.
It may mean initially on leaving OATS you'll have to get some crappy job just to pay the bills while you search for a flying position. At that point you may question your decision.
Life has a way of deflecting us from what we really want to do. At fear of becoming too philisophical, I think it was Proust who said "most of us end up doing what we're second best at". Think about it.
If you start your training now at your tender age(!), by the time you're twenty five, you could potentially be a jet Captain. Training Captain a couple of years after that, management(!), who knows? And still young enough to go back to uni if you eventually decide it's not for you.
I know from my own life experience that on the whole, parents, teachers, well meaning friends etc. will always advise you to take the less risky option. The only person you should listen to is YOURSELF. And that includes me. All this is only my opinion based on my own life experiences.
Another caveat - if you take the flying option, you'll be giving up your youth to a certain extent. Flying training is demanding hard graft. You won't have time to drink much and your social life beyond the other guys/some gals on your course will be zilch. When you get a flying job, you'll end up spending a lot of your young life working with people much older than you. You won't have much in common. They may well appear grumpy and jaded. There'll be no office parties. You'll have to work your ass off.
So there you have it. You want an exciting life? Then you must be prepared to take risks. You want a safe fallback? Then do that. But just remember there'll be others out there already starting to climb the ladder in their chosen vocation. They'll be your manager or trainer or Captain when you finally finish with your "safe" option.
The choice is yours.
