Need Advice: Would you stop skydiving for two years if your career was on the line?

[SuperKat 0]

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Know what? The sky's not going anywhere. And if it does, you'll have a whole lot more to worry about then skydiving, I promise.

Lol so true.

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Re-read your sig line, and decide what you want for your whole life, not just your weekends, or time off. And then go confidently in the direction of your dream...

damm, you're good and you're so right. You've hit the nail on the head with this one. I guess it's a done deal. Skydiving can wait for me cuz it's my bee-yotch! I've always dreamed about serving the public as a police officer. I will not screw up this opportunity!

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and thanks for serving.

You're welcome in advance. Watch me get injured at the police accademy. lol

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[Ron 7]

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You're right. However, the confident part in me, which took 4 Scott Miller canopy classes and a Flight 1 canopy course thinks that I will be fine and I won't get injured.

30+ people a year get killed. I bet they all thought they would be fine.

No one plans on getting hurt, yet it happens all the time.

Is the risk to your future and your dreams worth risking for some fun now?

Take up another hobby, learn to fly a plane.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[GogglesnTeeth 6]

With my current career in television... I would not quit skydiving to stay working in the television industry.
I believe that part of the reason I got fired last year (only part of it of course) is because of my love of skydiving.
My schedule was changed so I had to work weekends, and then I started using vacation days and a couple sick days on weekends only so I could jump. Consiquently I was fired.
Granted being unemployed really sucked, and now I'm in a financial hole trying to recover from last year, but all that time I spent jumping with my friends and skydiving family last year was worth it. I know everyone has a different situation, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Blue Ones!!!
You gotta do what you gotta do to keep what is important to you!!!

Goggles and Teeth

"You fall like a greased safe!!!"

[ChasingBlueSky 0]

It wouldn't even be a question for me. I'm finally back on track with my career after the downturn in the economy (unemployed four times in three years due to downsizing)...things are going great. I'm happy with my job and the path I have in front of me. However, it's a ton of work....I have years of work to catch up on and I want to be at the top of my game again. I bring my laptop home nearly every night and work on the weekends as well (my choice). Skydiving? It's in the back seat with everything else. It wasn't until certain distractions were gone that I was able to gain focus and put things into perspective. I'll jump again when I can afford to put focus on other things (plus I will be able to afford the jumps!).

In the mean time I've found plenty of things that make me just as happy as jumping (besides the challenges this job brings which I love - and that also makes me happy). To only have one thing in life to bring you that happiness is pretty depressing.

It's the responsible thing to do. Skydiving, jump planes, etc will always be there. You can't afford the toys if you don't do the work.

I'm sure there will be some that say don't do it, just cutaway, or some drivel like that. Meh. Will they pay your bills? Who will take care of you when you retire? Getting caught up in that you have to have jumping in your life is group/mob mentality that allows people to justify their goofy life decisions. (and most likely are young to the sport)

What happens when/if you quit the sport and you look back in regret at the decisions you made?

I gave up everything out of college to pursue my dream job. There were plenty of constraints on it, and there were a lot of sacrifices made. I'm no longer in that field but the memories are incredible - and I've never regretted my decision.

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you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

[NJSkydiver 0]

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I'm going to the Police Accademy in July. I'll be on probation for two years. If for any reason, I am injured during the two year probation period, I will be fired without pay or disability and I won't get a chance to get my job back. I thought about sticking around the sport, being selective as to who I jump with, maybe do a few hop and pops a month and what not but then I thought, why risk it? I'll only be out of the sport for two years and I can pick it back up again afterwards. The confident part of me says "stick it out and be positive, I won't get injured!" The other half is saying "I've waited for this opportunity to protect and serve most of my life and to not take a chance in risking the 20 year retirement plan and other opportunities with the NYPD!" What do you guys think?

dude, listen to skycop, windcatcher, michelle, ron and chasing blue sky. it's only for 2 years bro. being confident is a good thing. however, like Ron said, the 30 people that die every year don't plan on getting hurt. shit just happened to them. take up another hobby until then. before you know it, 2 years have come and gone. you have to concentrate staying safe on the ground man. i'm sure in ny there will be other flying objects swooping by you like bullets and what not. be careful out there.

- What do I owe beer for this time?

[popeyefireman 0]

I am in a simular boat as yours. I start yet another fire academy in a month and if I am hurt in the academy I can be released from employment. But you might want to check on what happends if you get hurt out of the academy. I know you said they would fire you, but that seems odd as you could get hurt on the job. Employers that invest a lot of time in you and money in your trianing are not eager to get rid of you. And police men have a very active Union just as firemen do and if you join they can go to bat for you. I did some checking in my situattion and as long asd I make it through the academy with out getting hurt, I will be fine. If I am to get hurt from skydiving or any other thing then all I have to worry about is completing my probationary requirments. I do plan on jumping during and well after my academy, part of the reason is that some of my new co-workers will be jumping with me. Hope that helped some.

Adam

"I Yam what I Yam"

I am not afriad to die, only to die without living.

[cocheese 0]

If i die tomorrow, I win. Because i jumped today.

[SuperKat 0]

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If i die tomorrow, I win. Because i jumped today.

Lol I love it. That definitely would have been me a few years ago. "Do or DIE!!!" type of attitude. However, I like the idea of retiring with 50% of my pay for the rest of my life in 20 years. Guess what that means for me? I can be a skydiving bum everyday for the rest of my life after retirement. Whoo hoo!

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[SuperKat 0]

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I know you said they would fire you, but that seems odd as you could get hurt on the job. Employers that invest a lot of time in you and money in your trianing are not eager to get rid of you.

You have to look at it fromt their standpoint. If I get injured outside of work, I can claim that it happened at work. And guess what? I get to retire at 75% pay for the rest of my life for only working a few years for NYPD. A lot of people have done that to them in the past. They've been jaded too many times. It provides an easy out for a lot of people that want easy money. Getting injured on the job and retiring with 75% of your current pay has been a big contraversy with the NYPD for many years now. Trust me, there are a lot of dishonest people out there and they want an easy out. They usually end up taking this route.

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And police men have a very active Union just as firemen do and if you join they can go to bat for you.

That's the problem buddy. I can't join the union until after my probation period is over. Therefore, there is no protection shelter for me until after the probation period.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[foxyroxtail 0]

The best way to keep skydiving is to know you can pay for it. Can't pay for it without a job. Skydiving may seem like Life, but for even many a passionate and active jumper, it is an addition to other responsibilities we have in our lives. Family, job, friends.

Keep it in perspective - the career can support you in many dreams and endeavors, including skydiving. Plus it sounds like that little voice is telling you that serving is a dream that you've had longer than skydiving...

Good luck with your academy training! That's quite a big deal to be accepted.

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[cloudseeker2001 0]

Yea, take a couple of years off and learn how to play the piano or drums or something!

"Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance,
others mean and rueful of the western dream"

[ChasingBlueSky 0]

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If i die tomorrow, I win. Because i jumped today.

Really? What did you win? Did those that didn't jump somehow lose?

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you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

[Avion 0]

What career?

[Superman32 0]

Nico,
Congratulations on the job appointment.
I just started jumping, so its the only thing I think about. Everyday I look at the sky and think that I NEED to jump. Having said that I will most likely be in that position next year, where I just won't have any time to jump for 2 years (safely). Skydiving will be on a break. If you are busy enough and if its important enough you won't even see the time go pass. Skydiving and CK will be here when both you and I return.

Inveniam Viam aut Faciam
I'm back biatches!

[Squeak 17]

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Dude, i told ya its not worth being a gay escort no matter how much they pay..

I don't do it for the money...........it's the fringe benefits that I was after.

Im have trouble picturing you as a Protective Service Officer for Diplomatic services FUCK OFF you RETARD is not a display of Diplomacy

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[freeflir29 0]

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FUCK OFF you RETARD is not a display of Diplomacy

You have it all wrong. Diplomats are paid to be nice to people. I get paid to be NOT NICE to people.

[Ron 7]

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If i die tomorrow, I win. Because i jumped today

No it means you will be dead, nothing more.

And dying is easy, living without money or injured is hard....Being injured and without money is worse.

Its this "Cutaway" and "Live in the now" attitude that is fucking up this Country.

People are selling their future for the now, only to get to the future and regret it.

Bad move.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[testpilot 0]

Give up skydiving to become a cop, no way. I’d rather become a skydiving bum.

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Trust me, there are a lot of dishonest people out there and they want an easy out. They usually end up taking this route

What routes that become cops

Dave
D830
http://www.skydiving.co.za

[caress 0]

I think that you can be commited to both things in your life. The fact is that you worked hard to get into the program to become a police officer. You have also put the time in to be a skydiver also. Don't worry about putting it aside for a while. You are still filled with the passion that skydiving brings, but you also posess the wisdom, and strength to be a great NY police officer. You would be amazed how many skydivers are police officers. I know atleast one. He is one of the greatest people that I have met on DZ.com. You can do this and you'll be just fine!

I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being
right.