When it comes to aviation, there are usually two categories of aviators – late bloomers and early bloomers. Many of the late bloomers do not have the opportunity to experience the thrill of flight until their 40s or 50s. Early bloomers, on the other hand, have the advantage of determining their place in aviation by the time they graduate high school, or at the very latest, college. Sometimes that discovery can happen as early as elementary or middle school, and for those destined for a particular career field in aviation, it can leave a lasting impression. It’s amazing how many people in the aviation industry discover their passion for aviation at an early age. For decades, a career as a military or airline pilot was an ultimate dream job for so many young kids in America. Over time, the vast majority of people who consider a career in aviation lose that aviation ambition and pursue a more common career field in mainstream America. However, according to the Aerospace Industries Association, close to 10 million Americans chose to make their career in the aviation and/or aerospace industry, and many of those individuals discover their passion for aviation as early bloomers.

Many who have discovered their passion for aviation at a young age become affectionately known as “ramp rats.” By ramp rats, I’m referring to kids (like myself), that spend every available hour at the airport, washing airplanes, working the line, doing anything that’s necessary to gain the opportunity to build valuable flight time. Through high school they work hard to solo, gain their private pilot’s license, instrument rating, and for some, even their commercial pilot’s license by the time they graduate from high school. The discovery of a passion for aviation early can have numerous benefits for ramp rats. Not only does it help expand one’s view of the world and the type and quality of the people we may interact with, but it can also have significant influence on the average teenager’s dating life.

After the traditional high school experience with a slight twist of Iron Eagle, most ramp rats have to make a decision on what type of secondary education they would like to attain. For some, it may be joining a few of their friends at a well known and prestigious Ivy League Institution, or for many ramp rats it may be joining half of their graduating class at one of their state’s major public universities. But for a lot of students that discover flying at a young age, it becomes a question, “Should I go with my friends to a traditional college, or maybe a major university with a well-known aviation program like University of North Dakota (UND), Western Michigan University (WMU), Florida Tech University, or Purdue? Or should I dive head-first into this career and go to an all aviation university like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where everyone will have an interest in aviation, or a military academy like the US Air Force?”

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