Thanks for the post bro. You're telling the truth.
One thing that I always reinforce is that it's all about networking and if someone helps you out along the way, that means that you need to help someone else.
Pay it forward.
If a kid walks up to you in line at Starbucks and asks you a question, take some time out and answer it because you never know if he's going to be your FO one day.
There are pilots on the website that I knew when they were student pilots that are interviewing for my employer soon that WILL be my first officers one day and perhaps even another captain that keeps bogarting the spot where I keep my flight kit. If you see a flight kit with a "Squatters" and a "Nine Inch Nails" sticker,
your bag does not go there, mm'kay?
I've had a lot of good advice and guidance along the way. People that were patient with my doofus questions or would check in on me to see how the trek was going.
Don't get your first job and disappear, reinvest the time that people invested to help you. If you don't and you forget where you came from, you'll be just another grumpy guy at another website complaining about all the damned newbies cramping your style.
You may think you have nothing to offer, and that's bull#####. People are hungry for even the most basic information or guidance.
Ok, I'm starting to ramble, but you get the point!