by: Nicoline Hansen
Bryson Chancellor graduated from Parkland College’s Aviation Program last semester. However, the Cobra was not ready to part with Parkland College quite yet; he landed a job as a flight instructor right after graduation. The 20-year-old instructor is more than halfway through his first semester of teaching and is enjoying passing his knowledge to his six students.
Chancellor knew that he wanted to become a pilot after doing a wax museum project in 5th grade. For the wax museum, he and his fellow classmates were assigned a person to research, embody, and share information about when they opened the museum to their parents. Chancellor was assigned the famous pilot, Charles Lindbergh. It was after this project that flying became an interest of his.
As a student, Chancellor knew that teaching was a goal of his. However, he did not expect to reach this goal at the pace he did. This makes him even prouder of his accomplishment.
“I’m only 20 and for the most part my students are the same age or older than me. I don’t know anyone else who is 20 and an instructor,” Chancellor said. “It wasn’t easy; there were a lot of late nights and a lot of early mornings.”
These late nights and early mornings did not stop after Chancellor graduated from Parkland. The instructor is now trying to balance a full-time job while working towards his bachelor’s degree in aviation management. Time management has become a crucial part of his everyday life.
Though Chancellor is enjoying his time as an instructor, his long-term goal is to become an airline pilot. His dream is to work for American Airlines, Delta, or Southwest. Instruction is the first step to reaching this goal, as the job provides him with a lot of experience, a lot of flight hours, and the opportunity to work with a lot of different people.
Until that goal can be reached, Chancellor is enjoying his new teaching position. He especially enjoys witnessing his students figure out difficult topics.
“I like when my students have a tough time trying to figure something out or struggle understanding a concept, topic, or maneuver, and they keep working at it…,” Chancellor said. “I keep trying to think of different ways to explain it, because not everyone thinks the same, and then one day they just finally go out and you can see a lightbulb go off; they finally get it. That’s probably the best part.”
While navigating his daily life and this new job, Chancellor draws a lot of inspiration from his previous instructors, some which are now his co-workers. These instructors played a big role in his experience as a student.
“I really wouldn’t be here without the other instructors… They cared enough about my training to help me out basically whenever. Some of them would come in at six in the morning or stay late,” Chancellor said. “They’re always just there for you… I try to be that way for my students. I wouldn’t be here without some of them.”
The young instructor feels like everything has come full circle. This interview took place in his office at the airport, where he meets with his students before flying to go over the agenda for the day. His office space is also the same office that he sat in to meet his instructor on his very first day as a Parkland student.
