I have completed all the courses in the BCIT Airport Operations program. It’s done. Finished. Over. Accomplished. Executed. Fulfilled. Terminated. (Thanks, Synonyms.com.) Time to sleep in for a month and not see the light of day, right? If only life was this simple.
As I’ve mentioned before, our program doesn’t have final exams smooshed into two weeks before break. Instead, there is the final project that showcases an imaginary airport we’ve created and all the technical and business details that would make it work. We work on this project over winter break and hand in all of the information, compiled into a three-inch binder, when we return from break. The due date of this monster project for our class is Friday, January 4. A week later, we would give a 30-minute presentation of this airport to a panel of judges (not so America’s Next Top Model-esque) who will evaluate whether us pretend-airport managers are fit to run the airport. Judges include our instructors, Transport Canada inspectors, past practicum hosts and other prospective employers interested industry professionals. My presentation is on Friday, January 11.
Aaaaannnnd at the same time, the job hunt begins/continues. I would love to be able to start my career in a ”day of” operations environment, starting at the bottom and working my way up. It doesn’t matter where the position is, I would love to go! There are a number of opportunities posted on our program’s blog, http://avopconnections.blogspot.ca/, if you want to see the kind of positions this program prepares us for.
This coming week will be filled with work in the mornings and feverishly compiling and printing all the project documents at all other times. Plus a PowerPoint. But you also gotta lead a balanced lifestyle! I am going to meet with some friends that have supported me over the past 16 months, many of which I have not been able to spend much time with during this time. (To everyone: Thank you, sorry, see you soon and I will make food for you.)
So for those of you who can/have/are currently/will hibernate this winter break, please do so, and do my share too. When the hibernation season is over, school will really be out.