When you graduate from the student program at Skydive Orange, the babysitting isn't completely over. Just because you have a license, that doesn't mean that you can hop on every load.  At Skydive Orange, they impose wind restrictions for various licenses. If the winds are too strong, they ground the A license holders until they subside.  In an effort to keep new jumpers safe, they won't let you jump (or buy) a canopy if they think it's too aggressive.

As a student, I jumped with Lambert, Kevin, Ostrich, Steve, Kelton, and Nick.  After I graduate from the program, I discovered something that was a little sad.  The instructors weren't interested in jumping with me.  Skydiving is their job - they are in it to make money. They were super nice to me when I was a student because they were being paid to jump with me.  After I got my license, they were too busy to jump with me.  They had other students to teach and their fun jumps were reserved for their friends and people with skills - not for newbies.

My fellow students became my "people" - Nate, Staci, & Chad.  Also, I feel very fortunate because a couple of the up-jumpers had taken me under their wings - Jennifer & Jaime!