29/07/2024
TAKING TO THE SKIES : How a small town girl defied all odds to soar higher.
Few years ago when District Administration conducted an interactive session on career guidance with higher secondary students, several among them expressed interest in pursuing careers outside the conventional white collar jobs. The only problem was convincing their parents of the many opportunities which exist apart from Government employment. One student even opined “Our parents expect that we enter into professions in the Government sector only.“ In the course of our interactions, we also observed that job roles associated with the aviation and hospitality industries were unheard of and any attempt to divert one's attention away from the Government sector was met with stiff opposition from parents and elders.
Fast forward to 2024 and we have one of our own girls who has taken to the skies, literally. Her name is Soun, daughter of Shri Aimong and Smti. Chongliu of Noklak Village. After completing her higher secondary schooling from GHSS Noklak, Soun Graduated from C-edge College, Dimapur. Determined to make a mark for herself, she applied for the job of a flight attendant after coming across an ad. As destiny would have it, the walk-in interview at Dimapur turned out to be her golden ticket to the life she had always dreamed of. Lady luck shone on our bright girl as she was selected for the post and was called for undergoing the mandatory three months’ training. Thereafter, she started working full-time in December of 2023. When asked what motivated her to become a flight attendant, Soun recalls being influenced by her school teachers. “As a young student, I remember being inspired by my teachers who always looked well put together. Watching them do well in their own lives inspired me to become independent myself.”
“The reason I chose to make a career in this industry is because I have always been so fascinated by the work that flight attendants do. As an air hostess I get the opportunity to travel to different parts of the country and learn different cultures. In addition to fulfilling all my dreams, I am also able to support my family financially”, she adds.
Recollecting her childhood days in Noklak, Soun says her parents could never afford to take them on vacations even if it meant travelling to another town within the state. Having such reckonings early on in life engrained in her a strong will that helped turn adversity into advantage. Hers is a story of how with sheer determination an individual can defy life’s odds to transform hardship into resilience. Now that her dream has come true, she says “I am able to travel the world and take care of my family at the same time. Looking back, it was never really easy to begin with. I did not know whom to approach for career advice and was often left to the mercy of my own fate. The other struggle was obtaining financial support to meet expenses associated with trainings and cost of living. In my journey of becoming a flight attendant, I have had to listen to many naysayers too but I have never allowed their words to weaken my resolute.”
Soun is currently based in Hyderabad and works for Indigo, one of India’s most reliable and trusted airlines. Her advice to those wishing to join the aviation industry : “No matter what the challenges might be, your willingness and determination to achieve your desired goal is all that matters. The rest will happen on its own.” We couldn’t agree more.
Wishing our dear girl all the success she deserves and more!
