Why did I become an FA? Story of my life..

A little introduction may be in order..

Just like any girl, I've always wondered about becoming a flight attendant at some point in my life... thinking of the exciting places I can explore and getting paid to do it! Such a seductive dream for a young girl.

Exaggerated comments from my loving friends and relatives that says something like, "hey, your so tall you should be a flight attendant! Or you should be a model!" gave me the idea. But it had always been at the back of my mind, i was focusing on school and finishing my nursing degree and getting a 'real' job after graduation. For me being a flight attendant is nothing but a far-off little girl's fantasy.



Then circumstances lead to another, which pushed me to seek another option from the kind of life I was living back then. Lets just say a very troubled family situation got me on a corner where all I want to do is pack my bags and leave. As I am planning my escape there it was another text from my beautiful cousin telling me to apply for Qatar Airways at the Marriott Hotel this coming Saturday. I have always been receiving these texts from her since I was a 19 year old college student but I never really took those seriously. This time i did not see a simple text that i would usually take as a compliment and say thank you ate, you really think i have what it takes? This time I saw an escape route and I am going for it!

They call that an Open Day. Where in people will walk in with their pictures and resume, stand in a long line and pass the documents to the recruiting officer. That faithful day way back in 2009 I was dressed with the only formal ensemble I own. A white sleeveless collared top and a high waist, knee length brown skirt. (all bought from UK -filipino thrift store) I believed I used these clothes as costume on school plays I would join back in college. And my school shoes a black 2-inched pumps.

As I walked in to the hotel I saw so many beautiful ladies and handsome men all lining up for the ballroom. It made think twice before getting in, did I go to a job fair or an Audition for a Hollywood movie?! In filipino slang _*Artista Search ba ito?!*_ The feeling of being in the presence of so many well dressed, well groomed people and good looking people is overwhelming! Its hard to explain.. its like you are in awe, starstrucked mode but at the same time you will feel conscious of your looks all of the sudden because you did not go there to watch but you were there to apply for the same position!

No matter what I am already here, I said to myself. So I did go through the long line, enjoyed the view and met new people on the line. It took about 2 hours to get from the standing position at the very back of the ballroom to get through to the seats and finally pass the resume and talk to the recruiter. A good 1 minute and a half and that is it! For some, they complained about waiting for hours to be only assessed for a minute! Man these girls were pissed. I was not disappointed I remember feeling relieved that it was all over. I did enjoyed eyeing on all the cutie-patooties and its my first time to enter the Marriott Hotel, its so big and grand for my humble taste, so I have nothing to complain about.

That night about 7pm I received "the text" saying that i was shortlisted. I jumped for joy and cant believe my luck! I really thought I would not make it since I did not even get the dress code right. I was in sleeveless for god-sakes and almost everybody else is in blazers or suits. Anyways I attended the second day, still at awe and amazement of the whole process. I did make it to the Group Discussion round before I got eliminated. It was sad but then that was the day I felt a spark in my heart. I now realized, I want to be an FA. Not just any FA, a Qatar Airways 5 star flight attendant. Thus, on this day begun my obsession with QR.

Maybe its the glitz and the glamour, maybe its the magic i felt when i received that text, or maybe its the pep talk that the recruiters gave before we got eliminated.

"The fact that you are here today, is an achievement in itself, over the 500 applicants we saw yesterday we saw you have potential. Now you know how far you can go. This is just saying no to you for now, maybe it is not yet time for you. But if you really want to pursue this career you should look into yourself and see what needs to get improved and work on it. Perhaps next time it will be your time and we will be here ready to welcome you."

Some may say that this is just a load of --- to say for the ones who did not get in but for me its an inspiration to do better, i already got this far there is no way i am going to stop now! and i will never stop until I get in.

Perhaps it is the feeling of almost getting something that is life changing, it was on your fingertips then you did not get it. Some may give up but for me its just an invitation to try again. Oh well, I'm stubborn that way.

Next chapter: The QR Application Timeline

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