Jennifer Pierce will soon be the first graduate from Val Tech's Advanced Air Traffic Controller Program which started last year.

In one year, people can go from just watching planes in the sky, to directing their flight.

"All eyes are on me," Pierce said. "That's what I hear all the time. They call me guinea pig."

The Advanced Air Traffic Controller Program at Valdosta Technical College started last year.

Instructors say, students can learn in a year, what some programs take four to teach.

"I don't want to be going 4 years in college so this was just the quickest and fastest way to get there," said 19 year old student Jade Duesler.

They use a high tech simulator to teach students how to control air traffic through perfect weather or stormy skies.

"You have people's lives in your hands," said Pierce. "I try not to get too nervous in the tower."

Students spend a large portion of their training at Valdosta Regional Airport and they help control its tower.

While under constant supervision, they direct incoming and outgoing flights.

"It's just the fact that I can be up high look out the window and I'm just talking to the airplanes," said 19 year old student Joshua Villanueva.

Jennifer said it's a dream come true to pursue this career. Her grandfather was a pilot in World War II and she grew up watching planes at Moody Air Force Base.

Part of that dream is working along side her younger brother in the program.

Now, Jennifer and her brother Andrew can get their careers, and planes off the ground.

Air Traffic controllers have a mandatory retirement age of 56 and within the next decade about 17,000 people will have to leave their positions.