Hi James.
I am from Portugal and my dream since I remember was to be a pilot. Because of that I started to practice this hobby and I love it. When I was 17 I tried Portugal Air Force to be a real pilot but , like you, I failed one of the last medical exams. I was very, very disapointed but life has to go on. I have been in hospital to cure the thing that made me fail those medical exams and now I am 20 years old and I am in the 3 year of Electronic and Computer Engineering.
A week ago I finally started doing something about my dream, I am in a private pilot school and studing to get a Private Pilot Licence. In the future I want to finish my graduation and become an engineer to get money to realize my dream, get the Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. It is not an easy job to get but I hope I can make it.
I wish you the best lucK:
Daniel Maia