Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you never see coming.

For Lezlye Dupree, becoming a flight attendant wasn’t part of some lifelong dream. It wasn’t a carefully planned career path or something she spent years pursuing.

In fact, it happened almost by accident. In 2003, Dupree was working for a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. The pay was good, but something was missing.

“I hated the daily routine of a 9-to-5 job,” she explained.

Unsure of what she wanted to do next, she listened to a friend who suggested she apply to an airline that was hiring flight attendants. With no expectations, she submitted an application.

That decision would change her life. Dupree was hired by Piedmont Airlines in August of 2003. As a flight attendant on a small commuter airline, she often worked flights by herself, serving as the lone flight attendant onboard.

While she enjoyed the people and the experience, she knew she wanted more.

A few years later, she joined Republic Airways, where she flew larger aircraft serving major carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and US Airways.

The move gave her opportunities to travel to more destinations and work alongside a larger crew. Yet even then, she still had bigger dreams. Her goal was to eventually work for a major airline and explore the world. That dream became reality in 2016 when she was hired by JetBlue Airways.

Nearly a decade later, she continues to love what she does.

“The freedom this career gives me is amazing,” Dupree said. “I’ve been able to travel the world and experience things I never imagined.” But while she was building a successful career in the skies, another goal remained unfinished.

Education.

“I’ve always known I was capable of earning a degree,” she said.

When the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the airline industry in 2020, Dupree decided to use the unexpected downtime to invest in herself.

What happened next was remarkable. She began pursuing her associate degree in July 2020 and graduated just months later in December. With momentum on her side, she immediately enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in January 2021 and completed it by December of that same year.

Most people would have stopped there. Not Dupree.

Determined to keep going, she enrolled in a master’s degree program in January 2022 while continuing to work full-time as a flight attendant and raising her children.

In December 2024, she completed her master’s degree with a perfect 4.0 GPA and graduated with distinction. Three college degrees in four years. While working full-time. While raising twins. While navigating one of the most unpredictable industries in the world. Even she sometimes wonders how she pulled it off.

“How I managed to fly full-time, complete three degrees in four years, and still be a great mom is beyond me,” Dupree joked.

For her, however, the greatest accomplishment wasn’t the degrees hanging on the wall. It was the example she set for her children. “My twins got to watch me accomplish all of it,” she said.

Today, Dupree continues flying full-time for JetBlue while also using her education to work part-time with Hilton Hotels. Her schedule may be hectic, but she wouldn’t change a thing.

Her journey serves as a reminder that success doesn’t always happen in a straight line. Sometimes the path you never planned becomes the one that changes your life forever.

And for Lezlye Dupree, that unexpected journey started with one application and a willingness to take a chance on herself. Looking back, what made you take a chance on becoming a flight attendant in 2003?

What made me take a chance on becoming a flight attendant in 2003 was the simple fact that I needed a change. I knew I was not the typical 9-to-5, Monday-through-Friday office person.

 

What was the biggest adjustment going from a traditional office job to life in the airline industry?

The biggest adjustment going from a traditional office job to life in the airline industry was the pay. When you first become a flight attendant, you make very little money—around $30,000 per year. However, if you can stick with it, the salary becomes quite lucrative. I’m talking six figures.

 

. You worked for several airlines before landing at JetBlue. What lessons did each stop along the way teach you?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned throughout this journey is gratitude. This is an extremely competitive industry to break into. It requires months of interviewing and waiting. Even after you’re offered a position, you still have to pass an intense six-week FAA-mandated training program to keep the job.

 

What has been your favorite destination or travel experience during your career?

My favorite destination can’t be narrowed down to just one because there are things I love about several places. For instance, I love the culture, vibe, and food in Amsterdam. I also love the culture, food, and atmosphere of Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Martinique. At the same time, I enjoy the big-city energy of New York. However, my absolute favorite place to be is at home in Raleigh, North Carolina, with my babies.

 

What do most people misunderstand about being a flight attendant?

Most people don’t understand what really goes into being a flight attendant. They think we’re just here to serve drinks and peanuts, when in reality that’s a very small part of the job. The safety of our passengers and crew always comes first. We also endure late nights, early mornings, missed holidays, and important family gatherings. Thankfully, I’ve reached a level of seniority where I can make my own schedule and work when I want to.

 

What motivated you to return to school during the COVID-19 pandemic?

What motivated me to return to school during COVID was the fear of the unknown. I had spent most of my life relying on a career that I didn’t even know if I’d be able to return to, and I had no Plan B. Looking at my babies, who were nine years old at the time, made me realize I needed to do something because I never wanted to be in that position again.

 

How difficult was it balancing full-time flying, motherhood, and earning three degrees in four years?

Believe it or not, balancing school, motherhood, and flying didn’t seem like a lot at the time. I think it was because I had a hunger for something greater in life, and I knew failure was not an option because I had two little people depending on me. I also had the best support system. Shout out to the twins’ amazing dad, my mom, and their grandparents.

 

What was going through your mind when you completed your master’s degree with a perfect 4.0 GPA?

I couldn’t believe it. But I knew I had something special going on when my professors asked for permission to use my work to help other students succeed. I underestimated how strong I was academically. I also downplayed it for a long time because I didn’t want people to think I was bragging. But now, I don’t care—I accomplished something most people could never do. Honestly, I’m not even sure I could do it again if I had to.

 

How important was it for your twins to witness your educational journey firsthand?

Everything I do in life is for those two people—my son and daughter. I want them to be like me, but a thousand times better. Having them watch the hard work and dedication I put into this journey pay off is indescribable. At one point, my daughter would see my 4.0 GPA and say, “Next time, I’m getting that.” Now she earns straight A’s, all because she wanted to compete with me.

 

What advice would you give to women who think it’s too late to go back to school or pursue a new goal?

Do it! It’s never too late. Our lives are constantly changing, and if we have the opportunity to better ourselves, why not take it? Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do something. Prove them wrong—I did.

 

Hddow has earning your degrees changed your confidence and perspective on life?

It has given me a newfound confidence in myself. There were times when I believed I couldn’t do it, but I did—and I exceeded expectations in ways most people would never imagine. God gave me a gift that I didn’t even know I had, and I’m so thankful He put me in a position to succeed and win at such a high level.

 

What keeps you motivated after more than 20 years in the airline industry?

My children keep me motivated. Their livelihood depends on the type of mother I am to them. As far as the airline industry goes, what keeps me motivated is the flexibility. I can work when I want, how I want, still earn a great salary, travel the world for free, and provide my children with opportunities I never had growing up.

 

What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in air travel since you started flying?

People have become much more irrational and demanding, and it’s sad to see. Many travelers are rude, impatient, and self-centered in ways that weren’t nearly as common when I first started flying.

 

What does a typical day look like for you balancing JetBlue and Hilton responsibilities?

I work at Hilton on Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Then, on Sunday mornings when I get off work, I head to RDU and fly to New York to begin my trips with JetBlue. Sleep? What’s that?

 

When your career is all said and done, what do you hope people remember most about your journey?

When my career is all said and done, I hope people remember that I was kind. We simply don’t have enough kind people in the world anymore.