My first job out of poly was as a flight attendant. I had always been interested in the idea of working in the skies, crisscrossing the country and the world, meeting new people and seeing new places.
I was so excited to get the job and embark on a new career.
Little did I know how much of a culture shock this job would be. It was nothing like I had imagined. People in my life would always refer to my job as a “high-class” one and I was very proud of the prestige that came with it.
Little did I know that not everyone shared my opinion on my choice of profession.
My boyfriend, who I had known since poly, was the first to call out my job. One evening, during a conversation about my work, he said to me “It’s not a high-class job. It’s just a waitress in the air.” I was taken aback.
How could he be so dismissive of my profession?
I was deeply offended by his words, but I tried to brush it off. After all, he had no idea what it was really like to be a flight attendant. He had never worked on one. The closest he had come to the experience was watching movies featuring flight attendants.
It wasn’t until I had been working in the industry for a few months that I realized the truth behind his words.
Being a flight attendant was a lot like being a waitress. We had to serve drinks, meals and snacks to the passengers. We had to help them find their seats and stow their luggage. We had to answer their questions and make sure they were comfortable during their flight.
These tasks may sound mundane, but it’s a lot more complicated than it seems. We had to be knowledgeable about the aircraft, safety procedures, and customer service. We had to be able to think on our feet and make decisions quickly. We had to be polite, professional, and courteous at all times.
Being a flight attendant is not an easy job. It requires long hours, hard work, and the ability to handle stressful situations. It’s not a job for the faint of heart. It’s also a job that requires a lot of sacrifices. We often miss holidays, birthdays and other important events with our families and friends.
Despite all of the challenges, I still believe that being a flight attendant is a high-class job. It requires a certain level of skill and dedication that most people don’t have. We are highly trained professionals who serve as the face of the airline. We are responsible for ensuring that passengers have a safe and enjoyable experience in the sky.
My boyfriend may have been right about my job being like a “waitress in the air,” but I still believe that being a flight attendant is a high class job. It takes a special kind of person to work in this industry and I am proud to be one of them.