My Journey
Watching prices go up while my paycheck stayed the same created a constant knot of anxiety in my stomach. I started cutting back on things I enjoyed, worrying about future bills, and the stress began affecting my sleep and focus. This anxiety about the rising cost of living was becoming a real detriment to my mental health.
My concern about ATC was whether it would truly offer the stability I craved. What if government pay freezes happened? Would the locality pay really keep up? I worried about trading one type of financial anxiety for another, potentially related to the job's demands, without solving the core issue of cost-of-living stress.
Preparing with ATCAT Academy helped ease these specific worries. Instructors explained the federal pay system, including locality pay and general schedule adjustments, providing clarity on how salaries adapt. The training itself, focusing on building competence for a secure, essential role, reinforced the idea of job stability. Feeling capable and understanding the system reduced my anxiety about future financial vulnerability due to inflation.
Now, in my ATC career, while I'm still aware of rising costs, the anxiety is significantly lower. Knowing my salary structure is designed to adjust and that my job is secure provides immense peace of mind. This stability allows me to focus on my health and well-being without the constant background hum of inflation anxiety. ATCAT Academy was vital in providing the path to this less stressful, healthier financial reality.