If there’s one thing I love about Daytona, it’s being able to head to the beach to go relax whenever I want. There are so many beaches in Volusia and Flagler counties to go to, whether you just want to watch a sunrise or spend a whole day out in the sun. Here are some of my favorite beach spots that I’ve discovered in my two years at Riddle:
Tom Renick Park: This beach in Ormond is located about a half hour away from campus, and is perfect for an afternoon at the beach. This county park has ample parking, as well as a pavilion, showers, and restroom facilities. I first discovered this beach spot during the Orientation Beach Bash my freshmen year, and have been going ever since!
Flager Beach: This quiet coastal town is located right across the Intracoastal Waterway from Palm Coast, and features many local restaurants and ice cream shops within walking distance. There is also tons of street parking on A1A, and a pier close by that has public restrooms. I love going to Flager in the evenings, grabbing a beachside dinner with my friends and then going to the beach to hangout as the sun sets.
Matanzas Inlet: This beach is located about an hour away from campus, and is perfect for anyone who is planning a full day out on the sand. This beach is larger and more secluded than the other two, and also has great locations for fishing off a nearby bridge. Parking is also located nearby. I went to this beach for a day trip on Easter, and it did not disappoint.
The Volusia County website includes a lot of good information about parking, fees, safety and more. I hope this blog let you to discover a brand new spot for a beach day this semester! Let me know your favorite beach spot in the area down in the comments.
The start of the fall semester is just around the corner. In just a few days every student will be back on campus walking, biking, skateboarding, and the occasional running around campus getting to classes and lunch. If you are new to campus your first week may seem a little intimidating and overwhelming and that’s okay. We were all there once too. Throughout my time at Embry-Riddle, I’ve come up with a few tips to help make that first day and week feel like a breeze.
Walk Your Schedule
Before my first day of classes I always “walk my schedule”. I go through a walk to each classroom in the order I would during a normal school day. This helps you get acquainted with where your classes are and the easiest way to get to the next one. If you are a new student, this will help you from being late on your first day.
Put Your Schedule in Your Phone
I would not survive without my phone. Not because of social media but because of my calendar. My calendar is my life……… seriously. My whole entire schedule for school, work, and social is in my calendar. I put my class schedule into my calendar with the location, title, and times. I have my color coded as well as all of the clubs I am a part of. Most of us have our phones on us 24/7 so this is a quick and resourceful method to keep track of your schedule without having to carry around a paper.
Plan Your Lunchtime
During lunchtime the Student Union can look a little chaotic. If you want Chick-fil-a I suggest going before 11 am and after 12:30 pm. That hour and a half in-between has a consistently long line. If you have the time to wait, go for it. However, if you only have 30-45 minutes in-between classes you most likely will not have time to wait. I personally bring lunch from home because I live off campus, do not have a meal plan, and it’s a lot cheaper. If you aren’t on a meal plan and want Starbucks, I recommend ordering ahead on the app so that by the time you get to the second floor of the union, it is ready for you.
Find a Quiet Place to Study
Hopefully you don’t have too much homework your first week of classes but there are a few professors who see the first week of classes as just another regular week and give homework on day one. If you would like to have a quieter environment to do homework I recommend the third floor of the union, the library, or to reserve a study room. These are some of the best places on campus that I have found that have reliable Wi-Fi and low noise levels.
Don’t Wait till the Last Minute
If you know you have an 8 am class do not wait till 7:45 to get up. Nobody wants to be rushed trying to get ready, eat breakfast and get to class. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to class so you can have a stress free week.
I hope these few tips help make your first week on campus a breeze. Just remember to take it step by step. You are going to do great things!
Parking on campus can often times be a difficult thing for both new and current students to navigate. Lot colors and parking regulations are always changing, especially with the impending construction of the new dorm building. With so many different colored lots and rules, it can be confusing to know who gets to park where.
Here is a helpful breakdown of who gets to park in what lots, and some other tips you need to know:
Blue lots are for employees of the university, and can be found throughout campus near all major buildings.
Yellow lots are for commuter students, and can be found near the college of Arts and Sciences, the Tomcat Annex and New Residence Hall 1.
Green lots are for resident students in the New Residence Halls, Apollo, and Doolittle. These lots can be found near the New Residence Halls, and behind the student Village in the paved lot.
Red lots are for all students who live in the Student Village, and can be found behind the green parking lot near the Courtyard Marriott and Corsair Building.
Most of the lots across the street near the athletic fields and near the ICI Center are all colored lots, which means anyone with a parking permit can park there. This is mainly filled with commuter students and some faculty during weekdays.
Additionally, blue lots become available for any permit color after 4 pm on weekdays and all day on weekends.
All colored parking permits can be purchased through your parking portal on ERNIE (just type parking in the search bar and it should come up). The passes vary in price depending on which color you are shopping for.
The parking garage has 4 levels. The first level contains pay to park spots, as well as a few pickup spots for mail in the mailroom. The other three levels contain reserved spots for students. To get a parking garage spot, you must email campus safety (Daytona.safety.request@erau.edu) and join the waitlist.
All permit decals must be placed on the bottom drivers side of your rear window. Additionally, all cars must be parked head in on all spots on campus.
If you ever receive a ticket, you can appeal it through the Student Court within 10 days of receiving the citation. According to the court, a preliminary digital verdict will be issued and students have the opportunity to have an appeal hearing with the Student Court to potentially overturn the verdict.
Finally, if you are a student living at Eagle Landing, Onshore, Ten60, or Chanute, be sure to take advantage of the free SGA Shuttle to campus. The shuttles run from 7 AM to 8 PM, and pick up students outside the student union. This is a great way to avoid the headache and congestion that can come with finding a parking spot in the morning.
I hope these tips are helpful for all students, no matter if you are commuting or call campus your home. Let me know in the comments if you have any other parking related questions!
During the past spring semester I was scrolling through LinkedIn when I saw an application pop up for the GE Aerospace L.I.F.T conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. The application was open, and I decided to toss my name in the bucket for it. Throughout the semester I completed 3 different interviews for a chance to attend. As the semester was coming to an end I got an acceptance email. I was in!!! I was so excited and grateful to have been chosen to attend this incredible conference.
For those who don’t know what this conference is all about, let me help. Every year GE Aerospace hosts a conference at their Cincinnati headquarters called the L.I.F.T conference. It stands for “Leaders Innovating Flight for Tomorrow.” People applying to this conference are looking for opportunities to receive an internship or full-time position with GE Aerospace. It is an incredible opportunity to get your foot in the door. Let me just say my experience was incredible.
Around 2 weeks before the conference I attended the teams meeting with all the attendees and employees running the conference. It was here that I learned I was one of the 94 students accepted out of the 2,800 plus who applied for a chance to attend. A remember another attendee asking how many of us attending would receive an internship. The GE employee told us, “There are 94 of ya’ll and 94 positions available.” That was very comforting knowing that I already had one foot in the door and just needed to ace my interview. Don’t get me wrong, I was definitely stressed about the interview.
GE Aerospace paid for my flight, hotel, and transportation for the trip which was a blessing. I left Daytona Beach at 6 am and made my first stop in Atlanta. I ended up spending an extra hour and a half in Atlanta because we had no Captain for our flight. Eventually I found out that our Captain was stuck in traffic and that they were going to get us a Captain that was already at the airport. Eventually I made it to Cincinnati and headed towards the meet-up spot for transportation to the hotel. Turns out there were 5 people on the Atlanta flight I was on attending the conference. We ended up talking the whole drive to the hotel and getting dinner once we got situated.
That same night everybody went to the Cincinnati Reds baseball game. GE Aerospace had the whole Handlebar Lounge and Seating Area reserved for the conference. We had an abundance of food. I spent most of the time at the game networking with GE Aerospace employees and asking questions. I am very glad that I did because I was able to talk to my program coordinator for over an hour and she ended up being one of the people interviewing me in the end.
The next day was filled with different informational sessions, interview preparation, and a behind the scenes tour of their Cincinnati facility. It was an incredible experience, and I got to see so many things in person that I had only seen in a YouTube video before. They are truly the best in the industry.
During my final day there I spent several hours preparing for my interview and ensuring that I had everything together. My interview went very well and took about 45 minutes. The employees at GE Aerospace are all so passionate about what they do, and it truly inspired me that I made the right decision in wanting to work for this company. Everybody was told that they would hear back on Monday about whether or not they got the position. After everybody did their interviews, we had a farewell barbeque where we had a BBQ food truck and an ice-cream truck. Many of the friends that I made and I ended up playing cornhole to celebrate the end of the conference.
On the ride to the airport, I got a call from the program coordinator and was offered a position for next summer. I happily accepted. So next summer I will be interning with GE Aerospace as an Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS), Manufacturing, and Facilities Intern. I don’t know which location I will be at yet, but I know that it will be an incredible experience.
When you see the application for the 2026 L.I.F.T Summit please apply. It was an incredible opportunity, and I would recommend it over and over again. There are so many different fields and positions open. Whether you are looking for an internship, full time position, or leadership program there’s something for you.
Here’s a photo from the Handlebar at the Cinncinati Red’s Stadium and all of the conference attendes. See if you can spot me.
August always brings this nervous feeling as the start of the academic year approaches. The end of one season, and the start of another, August will always be a transition month in the life of a college student. Whether you are prepping for your first-year orientation, moving into your dorm or apartment, or even just packing the car to make the long drive to Daytona, August is always the start of a new chapter for all.
I am currently going into my third year as a student at Embry-Riddle, and every year has been the same for me. While I enjoy my summers, I also spend the months counting down the days until I can see my friends, go back to the clubs and organizations I am a part of, and begin classes again. Living over 1000 miles away from school makes summer and the school year feel like two completely different worlds. Once I am settled into my summer routine, the trip to Daytona suddenly starts to creep up on me with the excitement of a new chapter but the nervousness of what’s to come.
For example, this summer I have been planning the move into my new apartment, and I have been looking forward to all that it brings. I am also excited to move off campus and gain a new aspect of independence. However, I have gotten so used to living on campus that it will be a big change once I move in. I am ready to get out of my comfort zone though and start this new chapter.
If every year was the same, it would be pretty boring. Every year at Embry-Riddle will bring new people, hobbies, clubs, and more into your life that you would never have thought of. My life now is different than it was in the final days of summer August 2024. This summer has allowed me to reflect on the year that just passed and think about the year that is to come. While I still have a nervous feeling as I begin to pack, just as I have the past two years and probably will next August too, I am always grateful for the experiences I have at Embry-Riddle. No matter what is to come after the final days of summer, good or bad, I am ready to see what is in store!
Let me set the scene: as the air starts to get just a tad cooler and the end of the fall semester is just a couple of weeks away, we stumble upon Thanksgiving break, where many students travel home to spend the holiday with their families. I am from New Jersey, and for both years I have been at Embry-Riddle, I have flown home to see my family for Thanksgiving. However, the vast majority of flights from my area fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO), which is a little over an hour southwest of campus. This begs the question of how to get there on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, something I found myself asking as I went to book my flight home my first year.
While there are many options, such as Uber, driving and parking at the airport, or Groome Transportation, these can oftentimes get pricey for many students. However, there is one more option, which is the SGA Airport Rides. This service provides charter bus rides for students from the Student Union to Orlando International Airport, connecting them to their holiday travel plans for a relatively inexpensive price.
This service, which is run by the Student Government Association, usually provides rides for students for Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring Breaks. Buses leave Daytona for two days at the beginning of each break and then return for two days at the end of the break. There are also usually buses throughout the day, meaning you can take advantage of this service if you have an early morning or a late-night flight. Times and information on this service are released a couple of months before the breaks begin, giving students plenty of time to plan their flights around a bus to get them to the airport.
I have utilized this service many times throughout my time as a student at Embry-Riddle, and it is one that I wish I knew about sooner going into my first year for my first Thanksgiving break (I was one of the people stuck paying over $100 for an Uber to the airport because I booked a flight before tickets for the shuttle came out). However, ever since that first break, this service has been a lifesaver for myself and many of my friends and classmates who ride these buses to the airport. You never know who you’ll run into! I encourage all incoming first year and current students to take a look at this service when information is release about it in the fall to learn more! Let me know down below if you have utilized this service from the SGA, or if you are planning to in the future!
We all have those nights where we have an assignment deadline at midnight, or maybe a big exam in the morning, and need to find the perfect spot to study. However, despite spanning two floors, the library can be packed sometimes, and way too loud for some to concentrate on their work. Here are some of the spots besides the library that I find myself studying in.
First floor of the Student Union – one of my favorite places to study at night is in the green booth on the first floor of the student union. Normally after dinner time, the student union is not very packed and noisy, making it the perfect spot to grab at table with some friends and lock in on that assignment you have. The Student Union is open 24 hours for most days of the semester, so there is no limit on how much studying you can do (though I do not recommend pulling an all nighter). There is also the perk of having the late night refueling station right there in case you get hungry and need to take a study break. Finally, these booth are super comfortable and some of them have outlets for your laptops, iPads or phones.
The dorm study rooms – while this one might seem obvious, I feel that it is overlooked by a lot of people. All the dorms across campus have study rooms on each floor, and these were places the I requested to do my homework, especially when I was in speech class and needed to go over a speech I had to give in the morning. These rooms provided a more private area than the student union or library to be able to study, which comes in handy when you’re practicing for a presentation and need a place to concentrate. The study rooms in the student village even got brand new couches and tables last semester, making it an even better study experience when you need to practice your next presentation.
The Student Leadership Suite (SLS) – Located on the second floor of the student union this is the perfect study space for people during the day and during finals week. The Student Government Association (SGA) provides free coffee and candy to students in the SLS, perfect for a quick snack or caffeine break while you are studying. The suite also has comfy couches and white board tables that can be really helpful when trying to solve math and physics problems. While the suite does close at 8 pm, it is open late during finals week, where the SGA provides free food and energy drinks nightly during as a part of their late night study sessions. It’s the perfect place to study and make sure you stay energized during your daytime studies and finals week.
These are just some of my favorite study spots on campus, and I hope they come in handy whenever you are studying for your next big exam. Let me know if there are any other spots on campus that you love to study at!
I am reading this book called “The Achievement Trap” by Brandilyn Tebo, and it has opened my eyes as to why so many students and professionals are seemingly obsessedwith achievements, accolades, and success. Sure, every human feels good about doing great things, winning an award, or achieving something big; but at a certain point, it sometimes gets to an unhealthy level. I noticed we live in a culture now where young people (20s-30s) or K-12 students are surrounding their whole lives around competing with who has the longest resume, who has the highest SAT/ACT scores, and who has the most achievements and awards. Accolades, Congressional medals, volunteering, professional involvement, work, studies, AP exams, IB exams, clubs, research projects, internships, sports, and can’t forget the social life – these are all important, but how do you make time for everything? The short answer – you really can’t. Something is going to give one way or another at some point. It is overwhelming to balance all of this to say the least, but for some reason we all have to do it, otherwise we risk not excelling in our professional and academic lives. I am not even through 10% of this book and I already have learned so much from it. I hope to write a book like this one day, because I have a lot of opinions on this topic…
There seems to exist a culture today where everyone is high-energy, on go-mode, and just cannot afford to stop or rest. This is not the culture that is going to foster good mental health. In fact, by exhibiting this behavior, I’ve come to realize it actually inhibits progress, often making us so overworked that we have to go back and re-do a task, assignment, or fix an error. Not to mention the feelings of “not being good enough” or struggling with neglecting physical health, relationships, or most importantly, your own mental health setting in.
Sometimes, things happen when you just don’t expect them to.
In March of this year, I was supposed to attend the Women in Aviation 2025 conference in Denver. I was so excited for the event, as it is a testament to females involved with the aerospace/aviation sector, and I usually attend every year for networking opportunities and to meet other national members. Unexpectedly, life hit me hard in March, tanking my mental health.
But this was a testament to my strength. Believing in myself enough to know what is best for me and what was right.
I had to make the very difficult decision to cancel my trip at the last minute. I felt terrible. I realized just then – I can’t do everything.
I really made myself believe that I could do everything. It had come to a tipping point, and I just had to throw my hands up. I took the next few days to myself. To reset and make some time for myself. Ironically, at first, I had to cancel with one of my best friends that I haven’t seen in years because I was going to be out of town for a conference. But it just so happens that I was able to attend her birthday dinner in Orlando because I was no longer going to be out of town. I was so happy to see her after so many years, and I got to ask her to be my bridesmaid in person too, gifting her a bracelet and card. The better part – it was at Disney, so I got to go to my favorite happy place for a day.
We had some great food, celebrated my friend’s birthday, and I got a new pair of Minnie Ears.
I started focusing on the top things one at a time: mental health, school, work, and wedding planning of course!
I picked out my perfect princess wedding dress shortly after my trip to Disney. I have had all of the love and support throughout this whole wedding planning process. Having a good support group is absolutely vital.
In June, I attended the annual FABA conference in Tampa, FL! This was an incredible opportunity to network, meet the other board of directors at the Florida Aviation Business Association (FABA), and gain the opportunity to speak on a panel! Can’t wait for next year’s conference and to share all that FABA has accomplished by then.
I serve as a NASA Lucy Ambassador, where I volunteer to inform the public of NASA’s mission to the Trojan Asteroids. In June, I also presented at my very first venue – The Deltona Regional Library. This library has its own nature trail and so many environmental exhibits. It was the coolest thing ever! I loved spending the day here and my audience had a great time at my presentation. I can’t wait for my next talk, so stay tuned for that location!
June was just jam-packed for me – guess what else?! I’m a podcaster now!
Okay but seriously, I received the opportunity to talk on the “Let’s Talk Girl Scouts Podcast” and spoke to 2 Citrus Council Girl Scouts. During the episode, we talked about what it means to be a female in STEM, what my most memorable moments are, and how to overcome adversity. This storytelling event really drove home for me what life is all about. I appreciate the ladies of Citrus Council for this opportunity and be on the lookout for this episode of this podcast on Spotify and LinkedIn (and even some future episodes down the road that we have planned)!
I like to be well-rounded, very involved, and I am constantly growing and learning. So far, I have taken a summer course, MA 510, attended a conference, worked on my thesis, presented at my first venue for the NASA Lucy Ambassador Volunteer role, recorded a podcast with the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council, celebrated my 4-year work anniversary at Olive Garden, and have been planning my summer wedding. Ironically, this post is somewhat of an oxymoron. I am blogging about all of the crazy busy things I have been doing, but yet I also took time for myself, and in some cases, chose my mental health over school/work/volunteering for once. I think this dynamic is important to recognize just how challenging it can be to take a step back.
In closing – My Advice to Anyone Who Needs to Hear They Are Enough: don’t compare yourself to others. You are in your own lane, on your own timeline, and directing your own story.
As we are quickly getting closer to the middle of the summer its time to start focusing on what you need to bring with you to move into the dorms. Now if you start doom scrolling on Instagram and TikTok there will be people telling you to bring this and that. But let me tell you……. half of that stuff you will never use and it will just end up taking space.
A lot of students like to “theme” their rooms and make it something that represents them and their hobbies. During my freshman year my side of the dorm was very pink and girly. My roommate loved sunflowers so her whole side was very floral. We didn’t know we were roomates until we moved in but it ended up workiing out well. If your are able to coordinate with your rooommate(s) it will help ensure that your room isn’t too cluttered. Here’s my list of the items that were crucial to me during my time in the dorms:
Dorm Room Essentials:
Mattress topper – trust me your back with thank you
Twin XL sheets
Mini fridge
When your meal plans run out and you want a little snack or ice cream having one of these is a lifesaver.
My roommate and I shared a minifridge to save on space.
Desk organizer
The desk you are given only has one drawer, so if you have a lot of stationary i suggest having one of these.
Desk lamp
The lighting in some of the rooms is kind of dim so for late night studying this is an essential.
Comfy pillow
Comfortor
Towels and washcloths
Personal hygenie items
Storage or shelving (make sure its nothing to big)
Hangers
Blanket (I was always freezing in the dorms….. lol)
Snacks
There is no such thing as too many snacks
Laundry basket with either wheels or a handle
The washer and dryers are not in your room unless you are in New Res 3 so I suggest a nice and sturdy laundry basket
Laundry detergent and fabric softner
These are just a few of the basics that you are going to want to have. Now decorations are completely up to you but I know I definitely brought way to many. I learned from my fall semester and took alot of it home during the Christmas break.
You can also see a list of things to bring – or not to bring – on the Residence Life page here. I hope this helps a few of the incoming Eagles. See you all in the fall!
So, you’re about to start your first semester here at Embry-Riddle! You’re most likely in some general education classes, and University 101 (or an equivalent class). This class is super important to jumpstart one of the most important planning processes during your time at Embry-Riddle: Degree Planning. While it may seem confusing and a bit tedious at first, having a solid degree plan your first semester will set you on a path for success over the rest of your time at Embry-Riddle. Here are some helpful tips from someone who has had to create and revise their degree plans so many times.
Tip #1: Look at the flow chart for your specific degree – Most degrees at Embry-Riddle have flow charts created by the academic advisors for your specific degree that show the ideal progression of courses you will take. While it is often not the only sequence courses can fall in, it can offer helpful information, such as if courses are only offered in a specific semester or if there are different elective options to choose from.
Tip #2: Meet with your academic advisor – Your academic advisor is probably your most useful resource when it comes to degree planning, and meetings with them (whether in their office or on Microsoft Teams) can help clear up any confusions you may have about your plan or help sort through any roadblocks. They are especially helpful if you need to get any course prerequisites waived, or have conflicts between course offerings.
Tip #3: It can help you plan a minor– This tip might sound a little more unexpected, but degree planning can help you add that minor that you’ve been debating on declaring. Once you have finalized your degree plan for your degree, it can show what open electives and other spots in your degree are free to add courses towards a potential minor. For example, I had 2 open elective spots in my finished degree plan at the end of Freshman year. Because of this, I was able to declare a minor in Emergency Management since it only required an additional 2 courses on top of the courses for my degree, and I had the space. I didn’t think I would be able to add a minor until my completed plan showed me that it was possible.
Hopefully, these tips will come in handy for anyone planning out their degree, whether you are a freshman who just got to Embry-Riddle, or a current student who is in the process of changing your major.
