Hey again! I am back with more GREATNESS!
If you follow my blog, you would have remembered I had a calendar full of plans this summer, including my wedding. Well, I am here to say everything panned out even better than I could have imagined. And to top it off, I graduate next May!
I married my husband in July, surrounded by so much love, support, and so many smiling faces. People traveled from many different states, counties, and even just up the road to come watch us get married. Our hearts were so full that day, and it was easily one of the best days of our lives.
Several connections and good friends that I made at Embry-Riddle I am still in contact with to this day and were even at our wedding. One of them is a team member from a research project that I led. Another is a family of a faculty member and told me our wedding was beautiful, and it felt like a “mini vacation.” My team member said it was a nice break away from her thesis. I am so glad I made these deep connections from my home away from home and alma mater.
Remember that “perfect princess wedding dress” I mentioned in my last blog post? Well, here it is!
It is a Maggie Sottero design and it is truly the dress of my dreams. I am proud to reintroduce myself as Mrs. Christine Sessions!
In addition to our wedding, we traveled to Hawaii for our honeymoon. Whoever told me “Hawaii is just like Florida” was so wrong! Hawaii is beautiful (not humid), mostly untouched by humans, and (something I did not know) possesses 11 out of 13 of the major biomes on the planet, all except tundra and desert. We went snorkeling, saw the Captain Cooke monument, swan under waterfalls, climbed mountains, and even got to see the Milky Way galaxy with our naked eyes.
It was a life-changing experience – not just seeing the galaxy, but coming to Hawaii. It put into perspective for me my own life, our life as a married couple, school, work, and even motivated me even more that I already am to help our planet and become a better person each day. The culture in Hawaii has opened my eyes and made me want to learn more about other regions. I came home that following week with a thirst for knowledge, a drive for change, and a fighting spirit to work on my business model idea and to start making the world a better place. Why can’t we all live like Hawaiians?
Of course after our spectacular wedding and Hawaiian vacation, I had to get right back to working on research. The annual SmallSat conference and our next big meeting for UNP was taking place in Salt Lake City at the beginning of August and I attended with some of my project team members. It was a beautiful city and great opportunity to network (as is any conference). Embry-Riddle had a booth where we presented our project and received valuable feedback from others. The architecture downtown was so different and the food was incredible.
I have traveled so much this year so far. I forgot how much I love flying. I am grateful for the opportunity to go on these trips and vacations, and so grateful to have views like this.
I didn’t forget to spend time enjoying the things I love too. Family, friends, nature, and having fun the weekends – all parts of a healthy and balanced life.
There are two new places that I recently discovered in Daytona Beach / Port Orange. Cousin Johnny’s Icecream Shop just opened – it is so simple, yet so good. This is really a quality over quantity, family-owned shop. This other place on beach side called Zugba Cafe has gluten-free options which I am always excited about. I had a breakfast sandwich on a house-made everything bagel that was gluten-free. The cost was a bit high, but it was one of the best breakfasts I had in a while. I love leaving helpful Google/Yelp reviews on places that I love. They are always seen by tourists that come to town!
I recently got the opportunity to speak at my old middle school on behalf of the Women in Aviation Daytona Beach chapter. I spoke about my journey—from middle school to graduate school—and about the world of aerospace and aviation.
What made the experience even more meaningful was returning to the same place that shaped me. Sitting in those classroom seats 13 years ago, I never imagined I’d one day come back to inspire the next generation, speaking to students who are now where I once was. It was surreal, and it awakened something in me that I didn’t even know was there.
A huge part of my story goes back to my time at Atlantic High School’s Academy of Technology Engineering Science and Aerospace (TESA). Being able to take ground school classes and fly drones while still in high school gave me a head start in aviation and shaped me into the person I am today. The professors and faculty I met through TESA not only inspired me then, but many of those connections have stayed with me and continue to support me to this very day.
I walked away with a newfound respect for educators and teachers—it truly takes an army to inspire and guide young minds, and it reminded me of the power of education to change lives. I’m deeply grateful for the chance to give back and hopefully spark curiosity in the students who might one day be the future of aerospace, aviation, and beyond. I am happy I had the chance to play even a small role in this process.
That’s all for now, believe it or not. Ciao for now until my next adventure!
