Every time turbulence hit I wondered if choosing a flight attendant career was a smart move. It’s always a similar situation: Flashes of flight attendant school come barreling into my mind making me very anxious. I force myself to remain calm, as I try remembering the things I learned in flight attendant school and during training at the airline.

It all helps a tremendous amount because it reminds me that I am prepared to do this. I look around and make sure everyone is calm, especially the people sitting next to the emergency exit. They seem capable enough but one can never really tell until the situation arises. The fasten seat belt sign blinks incessantly as the turbulence begins to pick up.

I say a little prayer in my head to help calm my nerves. The cabin pressure drops, causing the oxygen masks to spring down from above. The crew and I begin our mandatory safety procedures. In this moment, as I go around telling everyone to stay calm, I see who the true veterans of the sky are.

There is a clear distinction between those who sit calmly in their seats breathing into their masks and those who can’t seem to get enough air. I start to wonder if the pilot is going to be able to get us out of this one. He eventually does, but those fifteen minutes turn into a lifetime, and I can say first hand that I’ve lived quite a few lifetimes.

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