Richard Mitchell plans career take-off

Garfene Grandison, Gleaner Writer

Aviator Richard Mitchell attended Priory Preparatory School, Jamaica College and the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, where he attended the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communications (CARIMAC) and graduated with upper second class honours. He is currently a student of the Caribbean Aviation and Training Institute, where he recently obtained his private pilot licence and is on his way to furthering his studies in order to obtain his commercial pilot license.

The Gleaner (G): How long have you been in this field?

Richard Mitchell (RM): Since March 2003, when I attended summer school.

G: Where have you studied?

RM: Wings Jamaica Limited and Caribbean Aviation Training Centre, both in Kingston, Jamaica.

G: Why this career path?

RM: I have always wanted to be a pilot.

G: How was the process when you first started in this career field?

RM: It was easy. Initially, I began a summer school course back in 2003 at Wings Jamaica Ltd. This course catered to persons interested in aviation, but who were too young to attend regular classes (ground school). When I was 17, I attended ground school in the evenings for the Private Pilot course.

G: What are you currently doing to further develop your ambitions for your career path?

RM: I am in the process of applying to a school in the United States to further and complete my training.

G: What do you hope to achieve in 10 years?

RM: In two years, I hope to be a commercial pilot (which means I can be hired to fly) with my instructor rating (which gives me the ability to teach others), multi-engine rating (which gives me the licence to fly airplanes with two or more engines). In four years, I hope to be flying with a respected airline company. In 10 years, I hope to have had over 10,000 hours of flight experience.

G: What drives and inspires your career path?

RM: Passion. I often say it's the only thing I want to do in life. I believe this is true.

G: What do you have to offer as the future of the next generation?

RM: Dedication, discipline, honesty and integrity.

G: Do you consider yourself to be revolutionary, how do you plan to change the game or your field?

RM: I don't consider myself revolutionary. I just do what needs to be done to the best of my ability. I do hope to inspire others to be equally dedicated in whatever field they are.

G: Besides access to education, what do you think needs to be done in order to transform youth in Jamaica?

RM: Jamaica needs a social revolution. Access to education does not compel or entice youth to be educated. Additionally, education alone in the traditional sense cannot change person's mindset. Potential parents and parents alike need to be held accountable for the children they bring into this world.

G: Distinguish yourself from your peers.

RM: I am not into the flashy lifestyle so many of my peers embody. Rarely do you find a Jamaican, much less someone of my age who believes that 12 o'clock means 12 o'clock. Adherence to time deadlines is something I rarely falter on.

G: Old men rule the world, true or false? Why?

RM: Old men rule the world because they were once young men with passion and motivation.

G: What's been the most challenging part of making a name for yourself in your field?

RM: There are so many other things I want and need to do in life, sometimes they prevent me from being focused on my career goal.