The Real Life of a Scholarship Winning Pilot Student

As June draws to a close, we have updated the profiles of our winners from years past. Most are now training with a handful who have graduated or just about to begin their training. So what is it like to be a Pilot student? Is it a glamourous lifestyle - all aviation sunglasses and rose tinted social gatherings? Or more like the lives of most of us? Worrying about costs of living, where to live and what to eat and keeping the much needed money rolling in to fund the shortfalls from the student loan?

The Plan

Mason Jensen was one of our winners from 2024. he was in his last year of high school and living at home in Wainuiomata, near Wellington.

Mason has had a life story that many people read with shock. despite his rude beginnings, Mason was able to pull himself up by his boots and is now reaching everyday closer to his dream. We’re not going to lie - it’s hard yakka and very stressful but he’s loving every minute of this grand opportunity.

For those who don’t know Mason’s back story it goes something like this…

He and his twin sister were born to a drug addicted mother. At six months old they were taken to hospital suffering from malnutrition and neglect. They had both been beaten within an inch of their lives. They remained in hospital for two weeks, needing wide ranging care and treatment before they were healthy enough to be released into foster care.

After many years going through the courts, Mason and his sister were permanently placed with their foster parents. Over the years, Mason has lived with up to 7 children at a time as his parents have fostered over 50 babies and toddlers.

The family have little wealth or possessions. As Mum cares for vulnerable small children, Dad is the only income earner and he is a forklift mechanic. He is still working at 69 to support the family.

Mason was a house leader at Wainuiomata High School (decile 3) and passed his last year with excellence in most subjects. His principal told us he has been a peer mentor to the junior school for the last two years and has been a sports Ambassador for the last three years.

To raise funds for his flight training, Mason had a part time role in the meat department at his local supermarket. He used his income to be as self-sufficient as possible (to help with family finances) as well as saving up for flight lessons.

At the beginning of this year, Mason left home and moved to Palmerston North to begin his training at Massey University School of Aviation as he has chosen to complete the three year Aviation degree as his path to Airline Pilot.

Today, Mason tells us what it’s really been like - an excellent appraisal for all young pilot hopefuls about to leave home and start their pilot training.

And if anyone in the Palmerston North area is able to help Mason out with a flexible part time job , drop us a line! You won’t regret hiring him.

All yours, Mason….

On the way to the dream. (Mason rear left)

6 MONTHLY UPDATE

The last 6 months have been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, luckily, I consider myself optimistic and would say roughly 90% of it has been positive. Moving out of home to start flight training was a big challenge for me as it was my first major milestone into adulthood. Learning to navigate through everyday life as an adult was difficult at first but has been getting easier. Starting flight school was initially very overwhelming but as the semester persevered, I followed with it. Academically I have passed most progress tests and exams with a few minor fails within 3-4% of the passing grade. Most of my exams I believe I have scored between 85-90% which I think is awesome - because prior to Massey I had no study skills or effective workload management skills - but now I have found I LOVE the library, and a decent pair of noise cancelling headphones with excellent music taste.

The toughest challenge I have faced yet was during the middle of exams I was studying 4-6 hours a day and preparing for my first solo flight. During this time my partner had left for the States for 3 months, and the next day my best friend had told me he’d withdrawn from the course was moving out that day.

The day after that I found out my biological mother had passed away. All of this happened within a few days and it was extremely stressful and not a very common scenario but I didn’t have time to slow down and slack off.

I found comfort in keeping myself busy whether that meant studying by myself or with friends in the library or pursuing my new hobby/sport - golf. The outcome was very positive though, as I managed to fight my way through exams with decent scores and have achieved my first solo plus some.

Finding a hobby  outside of flying, such as golf, has also been really fun even though I’m not that good yet! It has helped me make more friends with different perspectives and helped me get through some challenging times early into adulthood. 

It’s all good stuff

This Saturday on the 21st of June, I achieved another major adult milestone - moving into my first flat. Because university halls are so expensive, it was necessary I move out into  cheaper accommodation as I have to pay for my cost of living myself with very little time for a job. Ultimately I am going to try to get work in a delivery job around my class and flying schedule to better support me and my goals financially.

I will also being trying to apply for more scholarships as even with a job I cannot afford the huge shortfall required for the second and third year and will continue to strive for excellence academically and practically in order to achieve my desired outcome.

This past 6 months have been an extremely valuable opportunity to me and I can’t wait to see what the next six, twelve, twenty four months have in store for me .

Thanks Mason. And for those who’d like to see how our other winners are getting on, you can see their updates here - https://www.pauwelsflyingscholarship.co.nz/winners