This Thursday, December 20, 2012, is the last day of class for my program. The last class ever. EVER. This week is the last time I will set foot on my campus as a full-time student. I have pretty much forgotten how I felt in first term, when I was just introduced to this program and aviation and BCIT. That’s why before I leave, during lunch today, I interviewed four students from Airport Operations Class 17 (the class after mine) to shed some light into the first four months of the program.
New blood on campus: Airport Operations Class 17 has just completed the first term of the program!
Q: Why did you choose the Airport Operations program?
Kal: I originally wanted to do the Flight Operations program [pilot training] but it was too expensive, so I kind of decided that I’d do this first and get my [pilot] licenses later. But now I just want to do this [airport operations].
Peter: I’ve always been interested in aviation, so I thought this program would be a good fit for me.
Candice: I wanted a job at YVR so I took this program to help me get there.
Sharon: I think working at an airport is pretty cool. I just changed my goal–I came here from China to take this program.
Q: You’ve got a pretty diverse group. How many people are in your class this year?
Kal: Twelve.
Q: How many fresh high school grads are there?
Peter: Me! and one other person.
Q: Why BCIT?
Candice: My dad went to NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology), which is like BCIT in Alberta. At BCIT you learn practical stuff, instead of going to UBC to learn English and all these things that aren’t actually job training. Having BCIT branded on you helps you get a job. So I thought, if I want to get a job, if I go to BCIT, take this course, it would quadruple my chances.
Peter: BCIT’s a recognized name; I also thought I would help me get a job. But it was also the closest institution that offered a program like this [in aviation]. I know there’s a university in Washington that has something similar, but I didn’t want to go to the States. It was the most convenient place.
Sharon: I heard about BCIT from Chinese immigrants here [in Vancouver]. BCIT has a very, very good reputation. I know it’s so practical, and after you finish your program, you’d have so much applicable knowledge and you can go straight to work. You’d already be trained for the work.
Q: What were some differences between the realities of this program and your expectations before you started?
Peter: I was expecting to get into aviation right away, like runways and taxiways and terminals, but for the first two months we discussed “How to Become a Master Student” as part of the Employability Skills course. It wasn’t “boring”, but it was not what I was expecting.
Candice: I was expecting to not understand a lot of stuff, like having to write technical reports and such, but I didn’t realize we were going to learn all of that. So far it’s actually been pretty easy, I would say.
Kal: I felt like the courses are pretty easy…and I expected more students in our class.
Sharon: I expected so much more about physics and spatial perception, but for now there’s been little to none. And the Successful Student course, at the time I felt it was boring but now I can see where to use it, like with technical writing.
Q: Did anyone have a career or post-secondary education before BCIT?
Kal: I was a barista with a coffee franchise.
Candice: I was in the service industry, so management for the restaurant and serving at a restaurant. Nothing big.
Sharon: I was an English teacher in China. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in English…but really.
Kal: One of our classmates has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. Another has a Master’s in physics. Someone else has an MBA; she was also an assistant professor.
Q: What are your favourite courses so far?
Candice: AIRC 1005, Air Navigation.
Kal: AIRC 1002, Fundementals of Aeronautics.
Peter: AIRC 1002 and 1005. Anything taught by Warren Le Grice.
Sharon: I think, Meteorology, AIRC 1006!
Q: What are some of the things you look forward to for terms 2-4?
Kal: The practicums. I feel like that’s the biggest part.
Peter: And graduating. *laughs
Candice: And I guess just learning more technical stuff about airports. I feel like we’ve already learned a lot, but just, learning more airport things.
Sharon: Yeah, more theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Me: It’s gonna come. Second term’s AVAO 2295, with Transport Canada’s Aerodrome Standards and Recommended Practices (TP 312), YOU’LL HAVE FUN.
Q: What are some true, honest advice you’d give to someone contemplating about this program?
Kal: It’s really busy. Do it, but don’t expect to have a life. They tell you this on the first day, and you won’t believe it, but it’s true.
Candice: Even if you think you might not know enough, still try the program. Starting out, I knew nothing, and I still don’t know very much, but you don’t have to have a complete understanding of aviation. You can just come here and they will teach you everything. I think [the program] is for anybody.
Sharon: You don’t have to be scared [about the workload]. It’s actually not that hard; just manage your time and finish you tasks on time and you’ll make it through the terms.
Peter: If you apply time management and don’t procrastinate, and you know what you’re doing, then you will do well at BCIT.
Thanks to the awesome Class 17-ers who took part in this interview! I hope your remaining terms will be filled with fun and frenzy! Without a doubt, one goes into this program and comes out 16 months later a different person. Perhaps more informed, more confident, more grown up. Our entire class has begun the race of panic in completing preparations for our final presentations in January. At this point in the program, we have very different things to say.