Well-being Day: lecture “I’m neurodivergent and I want everyone to know that…”

VILNIUS TECH Dominykas Stonkus, a third-year student in the Aircraft Pilot Training program at the Antanas Gustaičio Aviation Institute (AGAI), entered the aviation field not because of a childhood dream, but after making a spontaneous decision. Today, the young man is already logging his first flight hours and preparing for the next steps in his career as a pilot, and his story shows that the path to the skies can begin quite unexpectedly. In his junior and senior years of high school, not yet knowing which path to choose, Dominykas initially considered flight operations. However, one summer evening changed his mind. „I thought—maybe flying would be even more interesting. I told my mom, and she, though a little worried, encouraged me to give it a try,“ he says. After successfully passing the entrance exams, the young man was admitted to the pilot training program. According to him, the fact that the program is free of charge also solidified his decision. Preparing for his first „solo“ flights According to the student, daily life depends on the season. During the academic year, the focus is mainly on theory, while practical flights take place in the summer. „Since I’m a junior, we’ve had one training season so far, but this year an even more intense period awaits—both flights and exam preparation,“ says Dominykas. During the internship, students not only learn to fly the aircraft but also prepare for the flight: they check the plane, plan the route, and perform all necessary procedures. One of the most important stages is the first solo flight, when the young pilot takes to the skies alone. Although it is often believed that pilot training is all about math and physics, but Dominykas debunks this myth. „These subjects are important, but a good memory and the ability to understand many different systems are just as essential. It all comes down to motivation and hard work,“ he says. The student himself admits that he enjoyed the math modules the most, followed by navigation and aircraft systems, even though these subjects required a lot of effort. In addition to his studies, Dominykas is actively pursuing success in a completely different field—professional tennis. Recently, playing doubles with Lithuanian tennis player Edu Butvilas, he won an international tournament in Spain and entered the ATP doubles rankings, the global classification of professional tennis players. The young man’s experience shows that even intensive studies at AGAI can be combined with high-level sports. Dominykas plans to finish his studies soon and obtain his mandatory pilot licenses. Although he speaks cautiously about the distant future, one thing is clear — the path he has chosen opens up many opportunities both in piloting and in the broader field of aviation.

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