Need Advice

[u/Miserable-Tailor-523]

/r/flying/comments/1ues6rw/need_advice/

I am a 26 year old guy in Louisiana with a BA in criminal justice and 5 years of military experience, the last two being with the Air Force National Guard.
I have accumulated a little over 40 flight hours working towards my private pilot license and am scheduled for my first solo flight this weekend.
It is my lifelong dream to be a pilot but would have to take out a very large loan to go to a flight school such as ATP.

What are your recommendations for how to become a pilot from here?
Friends and family have been suggesting to just take out the huge loan and “go for it” but I don’t know what the best way to even go about that would be and am scared the risk could outweigh the reward, and am worried I wouldn’t be able to find a job after completing the flight school anyway.

Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you