Mick's Flight School
Donation protected
35 years ago, my husband, Ron and I chose a rural home, a safe and wholesome place for our three boys, but one far from the often overlooked opportunities of jobs, internet, and social connections available in a more populous place. When Ron and I began our careers, we needed no advanced degrees. We entered public service through the U.S. Forest Service: Ron served our rural community as a fire engine captain for 33 years retiring in 2007. I was a fire lookout for 17 years, and when the lookout where I worked was closed due to funding issues and changing technologies, I moved into other departments of the Forest Service as needed.
Each of our three sons is determined, dedicated, and disciplined, seriously committed to achieving their goals. What Ron and I didn't realize and couldn't have imagined was the exponential inflation of money and the amount required to put three children through college and technical school. We took out parent-student loans for the first two sons, and they took out student loans for their part of school expenses.
By the time our youngest son arrived for college, there wasn't much left in our savings, and his life-long dream of being a commercial pilot seemed out of reach. Nevertheless, he was determined, and together we borrowed more money for flight school. Mick is progressing through the program demonstrating his abilities and dedication. My fear is repaying the loan. New, inexperienced commercial pilots are not particularly well paid, and the loan repayment can be crushing. We want to help as much as we can, but we find we are very limited.
Unfortunately, for those of us remaining squarely in the middle-class, a precarious position stuck between both ineligibility for grants and inability to pay out of pocket, there is no recourse but student loan debt. That's why I'm here. That's why I'm willing to do something I would never have considered when I was younger, asking complete strangers for help.
Ron and I could not let Mick's dream die because money was the sole issue. I vowed that none of our children would slip between the cracks like I did because no one would go the distance.
Dreams are so important, especially in this era when education is not just a right but a requirement for success, and yet can be so far out of reach for those in our position. We need your help. Whatever you want to give, down to the smallest donations or even simply sharing this campaign with your friends. All would be a blessing.
I promise, in return, to pay it forward; to give back to others. I will demonstrate this gratitude every day of my life, for every day I have life.
Thank you and peace be with you always.
Lisa (Mick's Mom)
Each of our three sons is determined, dedicated, and disciplined, seriously committed to achieving their goals. What Ron and I didn't realize and couldn't have imagined was the exponential inflation of money and the amount required to put three children through college and technical school. We took out parent-student loans for the first two sons, and they took out student loans for their part of school expenses.
By the time our youngest son arrived for college, there wasn't much left in our savings, and his life-long dream of being a commercial pilot seemed out of reach. Nevertheless, he was determined, and together we borrowed more money for flight school. Mick is progressing through the program demonstrating his abilities and dedication. My fear is repaying the loan. New, inexperienced commercial pilots are not particularly well paid, and the loan repayment can be crushing. We want to help as much as we can, but we find we are very limited.
Unfortunately, for those of us remaining squarely in the middle-class, a precarious position stuck between both ineligibility for grants and inability to pay out of pocket, there is no recourse but student loan debt. That's why I'm here. That's why I'm willing to do something I would never have considered when I was younger, asking complete strangers for help.
Ron and I could not let Mick's dream die because money was the sole issue. I vowed that none of our children would slip between the cracks like I did because no one would go the distance.
Dreams are so important, especially in this era when education is not just a right but a requirement for success, and yet can be so far out of reach for those in our position. We need your help. Whatever you want to give, down to the smallest donations or even simply sharing this campaign with your friends. All would be a blessing.
I promise, in return, to pay it forward; to give back to others. I will demonstrate this gratitude every day of my life, for every day I have life.
Thank you and peace be with you always.
Lisa (Mick's Mom)
Organizer
Lisa McKinney
Organizer
Hyampom, CA
