Driven by Altitude, Sam Devescovi (18-22)

Sam was the classic little boy who wanted to learn to fly when he grew up. As he explains, “Aviation runs deep in my family with my father being a helicopter pilot and my uncle a private jet pilot. Being a pilot was always my lifelong ambition and working in the industry now is truly a dream come true.”

Going straight into aviation when he left school in 2022, Sam signed up for a Diploma in Aviation for which he was able to study locally at Air Hawke’s Bay. The two year flying course resulted in a Commercial Pilot’s License and from here he was able to go on and take a range of further qualifications giving him additional ratings and expertise. Sam describes how this created further opportunities, “I graduated from Air Hawke's Bay in November 2024 and after graduation was offered a job at the Academy, which is what I'm doing now, working full-time as a Flight Instructor.”  This new role has meant that Sam is now teaching other Lindisfarne Old Boys, such as Jonty Bothamley, to fly.

Sam was amongst a group of recent Old Boys who returned to the College in Term Two to provide some guidance and advice for Year 13 students  who are approaching the end of their school careers. One of the points that Sam highlighted was that although the pilot training was rigorous and demanding, with tests every two weeks, he was happy to put in the work because he was studying something he really loved. Sam also noted that being at Lindisfarne helped him succeed, “Lindisfarne prepared me for my studies and career by helping me establish good habits such as presenting myself professionally and neatly at all times, as well as learning to talk and be around people from many different backgrounds and cultures.”

Being one of the few students from his year not to go to university required a period of adjustment for Sam, as he explains, ”I didn't realise until I left, the quality of mates I had at school. Being in Hawke's Bay and not at university with most of them hit home how much I enjoyed being around them and what they mean to me.” In spite of this period of adjustment, Sam is very happy with his decisions and would advise current students to enjoy school while they can and not to rush into going to university just because all their friends are doing that. Sam says, “Take that GAP year or work until you find what you want to do or what you are passionate about. And when you do find what you want to do, be careful with money. I can’t believe how much money I spent when I was living at home!”

Great advice from Sam, following his own path has obviously taken him exactly where he wanted to go.