I'm Still Alive! (posted by Lani)

And believe me, there was some question about it when the alarm went off this morning. In response to your questions, Ann, so far the people leaving have been quitting on their own (most seem to have thought this was going to be something they could breeze through and flipped out over just how not-easy it is), but that seems to be over. The next wave of departures will be people who wash out on one of the FAA exams. No retakes, no second chances, no chances to make up these exams. You have to score 90% or above; if your scores are under 90%, you're gone. There are other ways to wash out, but that's the biggest one. In other words, study. Then study more. And maybe a little more, too. Oh and that's not mentioning the exams, like the evacuation drill exams, where anything under 100% is an automatic failure and dismissal. I wish I thought we'd all make it, but I think it's pretty safe to say we'll keep losing people over the next few weeks.

As for class composition, 6 of our original 44 students were male; we have 3 male students left. About a third of my classmates have previous flight attendant experience and are switching airlines so they can work on the east coast, or coming back into the workforce after taking time off to have a family, or something of that sort. The rest of us are brand new and believe me, we all have that deer in the headlights look on our faces right about now.

First "real" exam tomorrow, so much studying tonight. Fortunately there's a nor'easter hitting us right about now with lots of wind and rain and flood advisories and stuff. Yes, I did say fortunately; because the weather is so bad we got off a bit early tonight and our class start is delayed until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow, so I'll get to sleep an hour late in the morning and still have an hour to review in the morning before the exam. Wish me luck; I'll make a "real" post Sunday. Maybe even with pictures!