Becoming a Pilot

My name is Dylan Douglas Tunmer. I am a Gr.12 learner and boarder at York High in George. I was born in Knysna, South Africa and have lived here all my life. I am very dedicated and landed my first job, literally by walking from shop to shop enquiring about any vacancies for holiday work. I was 15 when I sold popcorn and candy floss from a little stall outside a shop in Knysna.

I have always had a passion for flying and thought I would start realizing my dream by obtaining a drone. My parents could not afford to buy me one so as soon as I turned 16 I obtained my skipper’s license to enable me to drive a boat on the Knysna lagoon.

With my skippers license in hand I applied for a job in the December 2015 holidays which would mean that I would have to sacrifice my entire holiday. I knew this was the only way that I would be able to earn enough money to purchase my drone. I worked very hard as the skipper of patrons boats at a local beach bar and after a full month of working with only Christmas day off I had earned enough and very proudly purchased my drone. I have since worked the same job for the December 2016 season.

Since then I have continued to build on my dream by doing odd flying jobs with my drone and done footage for my school as well as some local photographers and estate agents that are willing to assist me in gainingmore experience.

At my school I also manage a charity drive called, The Sandwich Drive. Every week I challenge all the kids in our school to bring sandwiches to school on a Thursday. I then collect all the sandwiches and together with selected learners from each grade, we go and deliver the sandwiches to crèche’s and pre-primary schools in the local townships of George. My proudest moment was when this term I sent out challenge donations to school parents and local companies and challenged them to sponsor this drive per sandwich to raise money for the development of studies for learners at the school. Our learners brought in the most sandwiches in the history of this drive totalling 1200 sandwiches. In doing so we raised over R18 000 for the cause.

It is very rewarding to see the smiles on the little faces when they receive their sandwich. I hope to be able to take this drive further and maybe one day I could make it happen in other schools as well and not only my school.

I also serve on the following councils and panels:

• Pastoral panel – counselling learners in need when going through tough times e.g.: parental divorces, deaths in their families, peer pressure, academic pressure

• Safety and security – during social and sport events to ensure no learners are doing anything illegal or any trespassers access the property

• Control panel – manages late coming at school

• Social Media – assists the marketing team with Instagram and Facebook

It is my ultimate dream to be a commercial pilot and I am hoping that you will help me realise my dream!!

I believe through dedication, perseverance, commitment and hard work that one day I will be a Captain and fly an A380!!