Follow Your Passion There is no doubt that 2021 has been a year that has challenged us yet again, putting into stark contrast the areas in our lives that might be failing us or preventing us from reaching a true state of happy purposefulness. In this issue of Spectemur, we look at how passion can shape one’s pathways and offer fulfillment throughout life. Here, students and staff share their passion stories, from life-affirming hobbies to shaping future careers.
Flying High: Alexander Guorgi YEAR 12 I am that person who always looks up at the sound of an overpassing aircraft and identifies what sort of aircraft it is. My Dad, being on his own journey to obtaining a private pilot’s licence (PPL), definitely exposed me to aviation from a young age. I had always loved the idea of being able to hop in a plane and travel anywhere I desired, with no boundaries or limitations. From flight lessons to learning radio calls and reading weather systems, the aviation world intrigued me further and further the more I learned about how it worked. Enrolling in an Aviation VET course through the school at the beginning of Year 11 (2020) was where I began to learn the basics of aerodynamics and how planes operate. My flight training is currently completed with Tristar Aviation located at Moorabbin Airport, where flights such as circuits around the airport and skills training, located further south above Carrum, take place. We fly in Cessna 152s engaging in drills such as how to recover from spiral dives and what to do if you have engine failure. This teaches you the basics to fly on your own and will ultimately lead to obtaining a Recreational Pilot’s Licence (RPL). Progressing further for me will entail navigational flights and instrument flight (IFR) as you learn to travel from point A to point B while enabling you to fly during night time. This allows you to then get your Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL). It’s then on to a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL) and Aviators Transport Pilot’s Licence (ATPL), which both enable you to be paid for flying and carry a significantly larger amount of people in larger aircrafts. In an ideal world, a future career in aviation for me will hopefully be flying for airlines on international flights while simultaneously being able to travel the world. However, this requires an enormous amount of time spent in the cockpit along with many exams and ratings. In order to be recognised by major airlines, a solid number of hours and skill level is required. I may, however, find myself on other paths such as applying for the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), as there are many career opportunities to fly there as well.
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