Prior to be a student basketball manager, I had only been to six states total, and never experienced flying. My first year as a student manager, I was asked to travel with the team during the conference championship week to Monroe, Louisiana. All my life, I have always been fascinated by airplanes and desired to fly on one someday. The six states I had been to before being a manager include: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. Nothing too exciting and nothing really worth flying to for my family. If I could describe my first flight in one word I would describe it as nerve frighting but something I would definitely do again. The weird part about this trip is because it was a last minute booked flight due to us not knowing where we were going to play, we actually flew from Charlotte to the Dallas Fort-Worth Airport. I would say the worst part about flying was the fact that I had a middle seat and was sitting in between two strangers. I was not very fond of where I was sitting and the fact that I had no one to talk to while we were flying or preparing to fly to help calm my nerves. Another part that was not fun for me was the long flight. The flight itself seemed like it just lasted forever but I was relieved when we finally landed and got off the plane and I was free of stress and glad to finally be off that plan and with the team again so I could talk to some people that I knew. From packing and preparation for myself and the team, navigating through TSA and the airport to our gate, and boarding the plane to head to our destination, it was a process. Travel days aren't all fun and games. I am grateful to have the opportunity to travel with the team. I have now been able to expand the number of states I have been to by seven for a total of 13 states. I believe some experiences come at just the right time and the story of my first flight will always be memorable for me. Sadly due to Covid-19 I do not believe this upcoming season that I will be flying to any new states, but the team will definitely will be flying again in conference play and I look forward to that day.
Sounds like you've had lots of experiences in a short amount of time! I remember my first time flying alone, somehow I always get a pre-flight panic before I go to the airport that Im going to miss my flight because I get lost!
Flying is something I enjoy a lot and try to fly at least a few times a year to a big city. I can only imagine the stress of trying to fly a college basketball team on a commercial flight! Hopefully, the times will allow us to fly with ease in the near future.
First of all, I think it's beyond cool that you got to travel with the team. Second, I am so afraid of flying. The only time I flew is when I went to Denmark two years ago, and I swore to myself I wouldn't ever fly ever again, unless I absolutely had to :0
I remember my first flight vividly. I went to Mexico on a class trip in 2019. I was terrified, but as soon as I got in the air I felt calm, until we hit turbulence. I was so relieved when we landed, but the crazy thing was I couldn't wait to get back on the flight, it was a cool experience.