My journey at Southwest began on October 10, 1994 as a Flight Operations Crew Scheduler. At that time, we had 196 aircraft in service.
I had a few days off before I began my new career at SWA so I thought it would be a good time to get my wisdom teeth taken out. Looking back, I don’t know what I was thinking! They were taken out the Thursday before I started SWA the following Monday. In hindsight, I should have known better because the first thing that I had to do on Monday morning was take a photo for my new ID. The swelling hadn’t gone down in my cheeks, so I looked like a squirrel with its cheeks packed with nuts! The photographer took pity on me and I talked her into waiting a couple of days to take my picture. When I went into Crew Scheduling to begin my first day, everyone thought that I had had an allergic reaction because my cheeks were so swollen. The next few weeks my nickname was Alvin!
Being completely new to the airline industry I had a lot to learn as a Crew Scheduler. My training consisted of learning the contract, legalities, FAR’s, taking sick calls, assigning reserves and sorting log sheets (oh, those log sheets…. the newbie always got the log sheets!). After my first month, I was asking myself what in the world had I gotten myself into?! Two months had passed since my first day on the job and suddenly we were confronted with one of the most hectic times of my SWA career. We canceled over 500 flights in one day, and pure chaos ensued! A snow storm closed Chicago-MDW and several East Coast airports over the next 2 days. This is the moment I realized that my Coworkers had the ability to come together as a team. It was a couple of the craziest days I have had at Southwest. Despite the challenge that was presented to us, we conquered the chaos and the struggle brought us together as a more united team.
After a fierce game of Whirly Ball
A month after that, Flight Ops and Inflight Planning, Scheduling, and Payroll Employees were named as our 1995 “Heroes of the Heart.” Since I had only been at Southwest less than six months, I did not feel deserving of the award. However, after experiencing a small glimpse of what my fellow Coworkers accomplished year after year; they were without a doubt deserving of this prestigious honor.
During my first six months at Southwest, I was amazed by all of the pictures that line the halls of the headquarters building and learned about some of the stories behind those pictures that made up Southwest Airlines rich history. The great thing about those pictures is they are a window into each of our futures. I can say this because I have enjoyed traveling and participating in Company sponsored events. I would encourage all new employees to get involved because it has truly made my life better. I love all the Holiday celebrations, especially Halloween. One of the most rewarding experiences has been volunteering for different charitable events and cooking dinner at The Ronald McDonald House. These events have given me the feeling of belonging in my “new family” and solidified for me, that this is where I wanted to build my future. Now, 17 years later as I walk the halls; the pictures on the walls reflect some of the amazing history and culture that I have been lucky enough to have experienced firsthand. I can honestly say that the people at Southwest Airlines have become part of my family and have enriched my life. I look forward to many new opportunities to participate in our Culture during the upcoming years and am honored to be part of this wonderful Company.
Halloween at Headquarters, 2010