About Hannah

Sophomore

Arts & Science Communication

**Minor:** Psychology
**Career Goals:** I want to start a magazine and photography company but I'm still looking into career goals.
**Why I chose Embry-Riddle:** I chose ERAU because I fell in love with the campus and the atmosphere. I didn't feel like just another number here and the relationships with faculty and staff were genuinely one-on-one. Anytime I'd meet students they were always warm and inviting. In a way I feel I didn't choose Embry-Riddle but it chose me.

November 18, 2010

When you embark on this journey called college
it can be a mixture of emotions. Excitement for new beginnings, nervousness, and stress, trust as you end the first semester you will understand the frustration and stressfulness of the closing semester.  I can, however, tell you some simple things to remember to help alleviate the stress that may come along with this time of transition.

  1. Make sure you pay attention in Univ. 101 (I believe is required of all freshmen) especially when you do your four-year plan, this class in the end will be great benefit and you will find registration a skip in the park, or at least a brisk jog.
  2. Talk to your advisor as soon as possible. Do NOT and I stress not, wait till the very last moment to make an appointment with your academic advisor. Unlike high school where they somewhat held your hand, in college it is up to you, the student, to go after what you need including academically.Note: The last minute would be around late October and into the first few weeks of November. This is one of the busiest times for your academic advisor and quite frankly they are just as (if not somewhat more so) stressed as you are. Thankfully you don’t have to see every freshman and clarify that their schedule is correct and they can move on. So do them a BIG favor and see them earlier on and it will save you both a headache and time in the end.
  3. Speak to an RA, upperclassmen (that you trust and know) or any available professors if you are stuck on and/or need help in figuring out the process of making a schedule. Everyone already knows you are a freshmen and it is not always the easiest to figure out the ropes of college so make upperclassmen friends, talk to an RA, or even go to the Doolittle Annex where student staff can help you with most academic problems you may acquire.
  4. Lastly, don’t be afraid to speak up. Sometimes not speaking up about your concerns (even if you think embarrassing) can be the worst thing you can do. Granted, sometimes your answers come when you wait and watch but at other times if you are seeing a problem speak up before it is too late.Note: This also includes if you are having problems with your academic advisor (such as lack of communication regardless of your many attempts). Some things are able to be changed if you speak up in time. If for some reason you and your academic advisor cannot see eye-to-eye then take the initiative to get another academic advisor or speaking with the head of academic advisors to resolve the problem in a mature manner.

Being in college means freedom and, of course, with it comes a load of responsibility. Although some adjust with no problems, others of us have a little more trouble and speaking up about it can make all the difference when you face a problem. Just remember high school and college are two completely different worlds and when trying to collide they may not mix so well. College teaches you a lot of life skills and as in life sometimes you must seek after that which you want……including the “perfect schedule” for your second semester.

November 1, 2010

Controlling Stress

It’s nearing second semester, what does that mean? It means tests, tests, and more tests. Yes, I know and they are inevitable! So what do you to help relieve the stress that you may be receiving with all the studying and worrying about getting a spring schedule and having the tuition paid and everything else that you must do before Christmas break?

First, BREATHE! Taking a deep breath and realizing where you are in your state of being helps a lot. It may seem like the homework is endless and that time slips faster and sleep is something you question if you’ve actually had in a good minute but trust it does calm down. One of my many favorite things to do when I get stressed it so take out my iPod and just take a nice little walk. Not going to anywhere special but just getting out of the library or my friend’s dorm and lounge and just see the beautiful trees that are changing colors on their leaves. Or the smell of the air and how it feels running through my hair. It’s always a good thing to get out and take in nature in its natural setting.

Another thing I like to do when I know I have a lot of work to complete is making a list of things by priority. Now personally I do my list with a twist, they suggest that you should take care of everything with highest priority first which is true and all, but I tend to begin the list with the highest priority assignment and following after an easier assignment that is sure to make me feel like I can continue on and that the load will get easier. If anything, seeing that I can accomplish getting my work done and on time is a big encouragement and the more things I mark off my list only put a bigger smile on my face and a little bit of pip in my step.

Taking a power nap (which is about 20mins.) can also be beneficial; however, I do not suggest you take one if you are already very tired because most likely (as I have done many of times) you will wake up to find the sun has set and the clock is about 2hours more since you last checked.

Meditation is also a wonderful way of relaxing and taking the pressure off from studying too hard,but as with power naps be sure to not fall asleep or become too deeply entranced,the same results just may occur. How you relax is truly up to you, some find it in drawing, listening to music, skateboarding, dancing, or just getting on the phone and talking to a friend or family member. Whatever way it is you find to relax (of course in a legal manner) try to stick to it or find other legal fun ways of taking the edge off yourself, you just may find that studying doesn’t have to be that big of a nuisance after all. (And always try to AVOID ending up like this guy)

October 14, 2010

On Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010 a few friends and I from the school went to the Wings and Waves Air show, an experience that everyone should partake in. The beachside was packed with locals and tourists alike with everyone’s eyes were glued to the sky anticipating the arrival of planes and the different acts they would perform. From: F-22 demonstrations, Skytypers (Gieco), P-51 Mustang, F-22 Raptor and the F-16 Viper (Heritage flight), and even the Snowbirds from Canada. The show in its entirety was nothing short of exciting and intriguing.

I left with a sense of wonder and curiosity about this flight that captivated the pilots at my school. I loved watching the Heritage flight that showed the history (briefly) of fighter planes in the USAF (United States Air Force). So many of the performances were directly dedicated to the military services (current, past, and future even) and the family members of them as well. It meant a lot hearing and seeing the dedications considering I have a brother currently serving in the USN (United States Navy). Being in the show put a lot of things into perspective for me though and it made me have a new sense of pride in the country I was born and raised in for all of my life. I knew that there was a big world out there that I still wanted and had yet to see but I also knew that I wanted to defend my country and the beautiful freedom we have here. Wings and Waves show, which previously was a semi-annual tradition, will hopefully continue on for many more years to come (they just began the program again this year). I can’t wait to experience my next show and maybe this next time I can be up high shooting pictures of the flyers. Or maybe, just maybe I’d be active in a branch of the military. Like many things in life, I assume, I’d just have to wait and see for myself what would the future bring out into the open.

October 7, 2010

I finally had the chance to do something I had wanted to do since I became interested in attending Embry-Riddle, observe a flight. Yes, for a student like me, who was attending school for Communications, something about flying still intrigued me and I had made it a personal goal to go on an observance flight before the end of my semester. I walked over to the flight line and, with a little fear and hesitation, proceeded to go to the flight desk and ask about observing a flight. Of course, I had to have to permission of the pilot, but, thankfully he allowed me to fly with him and his instructor. His name was James and he was quiet yet friendly. After I received my visitor’s badge and a loaner pair of ear muffs I was more than ready to go. We walked out to the gate and were let in by a security guard then we proceeded through the other gate. We were picked up by a golf cart and brought down to the plane that he would be flying. I stood in one place trying to be out of his way but still so interested as he cleaned down his windows and checked over the plane thoroughly. He told me it may be awhile since he still had yet to get topped off with fuel and wait for his flight instructor. At this point though I didn’t mind at all, I knew I was going to observe this day and I was so stuck on the idea the nothing could bring me down. His instructor walked up after he had gotten more fuel and introduced himself to me, his name was Daniel. He told me he had been flying for six year and was a graduate from Embry-Riddle as well. His dream job was being an instructor at Embry-Riddle and after four years of college and a few months of waiting for an open position he had become an instructor. An hour nearly had passed but it was worth the wait because there really was no room for error when flying and having a guest passenger (who did want to return safely). Finally though, the time did arrive, we boarded the plane buckling up and going over different safety procedures while waiting to get clearance from ATC (Air Traffic Control) so we could begin our flight. We taxied down the flight line and after a brief propeller check between the student and instructor we rode down the runway, faster and faster we went and slowly ascending into the air nearly hovering into a higher altitude. I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was in the air, I had flown so many times before but it was much more different with being in a smaller aircraft. I have lived in Daytona Beach basically all my life and as we flew towards New Smyrna I saw just how much of this place I had actually ever seen. It was breathtakingly beautiful and I was honored to have been able to go on a flight as such. Since he was practicing landings we landed and took off multiple times from the flight deck in New Smyrna. With each take off I noticed more about the surrounding land and how beautiful it was to be up seemingly weightless and seeing how the sun shone through the plane’s windows and the beach down below that looked endless, I never wanted to leave from the air. Unfortunately, the flight did come to an end (an hour total not including prep time) and though happy we made it back safely, I had wished it could’ve been a longer flight to see the beauty that every pilot has the opportunity of witnessing everyday on our campus.

It gave me a whole new outlook on the pilots at our school, each one of them takes a risk every time they fly but it was an experience that most people would never experience or some would be too afraid to. Honestly, the flight made even me want to change my major so that I could fly to be a daredevil and see that captivating view once more, however, I did make a promise to myself before leaving to take at the least one observance flight each semester (though secretly I dared myself to go once a week or four times in a month since there are NO LIMITS to how many observance flights a student takes believe it or not). I would suggest to every student to take an observance flight at some point in your college experience. Sure you may have been on so many other flights but unless you’re a pilot, well, you shouldn’t want to miss out on flying in the sky with Embry-Riddle finest. Who knows maybe you will have a change of heart and want to fly, or maybe you will see what the drive for the pilots that we see flying above us as you walk to class every day. A beautiful experience that I can barely describe in words it’s much better to be seen in person. Since I will be taking more flights up (hopefully really soon) I plan on trying to take pictures and maybe even some video of my trips up. If you would like to view them please feel free to add my facebook page (you can also ask me questions about campus and I will try my best to answer for you) or you can contact me via email at: gatorg12@yahoo.com Pictures to come soon so keep looking out!

September, 2010

Hello everyone!

My name is Hannah Langhorn and I am a resident of Daytona Beach, Florida. I grew up here for the majority of my life (excluding 5 years when I lived in St. Petersburg near Tampa then moved back). I am a part of the Communication program at ERAU (Daytona Beach Campus) and I am working towards a minor in psychology. I chose to attend ERAU for some of the most obvious reasons; mainly having an amazing academics program and having smaller class sizes where you can actually get to know your professors one on one (as supposed to being know as just a “number”). And, for some of the less obvious reasons; anytime I would visit the campus I felt really confident that Riddle would be the best place for me to continue my education. A big benefit was it being close to home (unlike many of the people I have come in contact with) but it’s great because anytime I come on campus it feels like I left considering so many of the students are from out of state and a good portion out of the country. Being that I am a freshman, my experience so far has been quite the learning experience. Not only is it an adjustment getting used to the classes, but as with many, the constant questioning of how you are going to meet people on campus. For someone who wasn’t always as outgoing it can seem intimidating to walk up to random people and say hi but with all honesty, it is really hard to walk an hour on this campus and not have at least one person say hi or at least share a smile. I’m learning what places to not eat at too much because when you do you develop a slight addiction (Chick-fil-a). And the dining places I still have yet to try such as Propellers (rumored to have the BEST burgers on campus and some say town).

Each day on campus is never the same, and if I might add this is a great thing in my opinion. College can teach you a lot if you let it, not only via classroom but even the act of getting a little lost on your first day or walking into a classroom and realizing halfway through it’s not your own. But, don’t worry none of this is to alarm in any way but really to encourage. Coming from high school to college can be so nerve wracking and for some extremely hard; leaving family behind and old friends everything we took for granted somehow seems overly significant and holds sentimental values for us now. Just as with the cons though, there are plenty of positives and though not readily viewable with time they grow and we see them as clearly as the hot sun blaring down on us all (it’s a Florida thing). In the words of an inspiring pilot who broke boundaries and expectations by flying solo across the Atlantic Ocean (New York to Paris, France); “A life without risk is not worth living.” -Charles Lindbergh.

Trust, college is only one of the many adventures that will come in life and it’s all a matter of how we take these challenges that life throws at us. I’m proud to be an Eagle and wear my blue and gold. It’s hard to describe the feeling and is something, well, that’ll you’ll just have to discover on your own.

I have really been enjoying my time is an Eagle thus far and I’m positive that my years to come will be a great experience growing me as a person both professionally and socially.