About Emily

Sophomore

Human Factors Psychology

Hometown: New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Shifting to Online

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Emily

Hello everyone! I hope everyone is adjusting well to online schooling. I know that things right now are not quite ideal, but I hope that everyone is staying safe and being cautious. I’m sure that has been said and heard a thousand times, but I just wanted to reinforce it. I also want to talk about organization and ways to make sure you are keeping track in this blog, because, if you’re like me, online schooling may not be your strong suit.

I personally have had a lot of issues staying on track, staying motivated, and keeping track of my school schedule. Some professors help by doing online virtual lectures, whereas others just add more work and reading. With that, it can feel a little bit over whelming, especially of you have full-time classes and other obligations. Which brings me to the tips I want to share:

Tip #1: Stick to Your Schedule

Try to focus on your classes at the corresponding times you would’ve met up with them in person. This is the main thing that’s been really helping me stay on track and stay motivated. With Monday, Wednesday, and Friday being my long days with 4 classes each an hour long, I have been able to really get my work done and get through the slides and reading that those professors left for me to read and review. Because I have been using this method to do my work, I have been able to stop about the same time I stop school on campus and carry out the rest of my day to do whatever.

Tip #2: Put it in Your Planner

My next tip is to use a planner. Most professors have changed up their learning plan and have adjusted schedules. In order to keep track of the new work and dates I suggest recording them or finding a method that suits you to keep track. Whether that means a planner on your phone, a calendar, or printing the syllabus. This way you don’t confuse yourself or forget about tests or assignments without the professor reminding us when our next test is or when that final paper is due.

Tip #3: Create Your Space

As far as staying motivated and focused go, I would advise sitting at a desk or a table of some sort that’s well-lit and devoted to work. Try not to lay in bed to do your work and school, believe me I have tried. The difference between working at a desk in a chair instead of lounging in bed is huge and works wonders for your brain. This is partly because of a psychological aspect. Typically, when you’re in bed, your mind associates that to sleeping or relaxing, I promise it just makes you a little lazier than your need to be.

Tip #4: Don’t Panic – Manage Your Stress

My final tip to everyone is not to stress or panic. I know we are in crazy times and that the work load of online schooling is more then we all bargained for, but if you take my advice and dedicate times of the day to your classes, the stress will not be as bad. Wake up every morning, eat some breakfast and get to work with your classes as if you were going to classes in person. As soon as you’re finished for the day just relax. Watch a movie, chef it up in the kitchen, exercise, call a friend or read a book. Do whatever you need to during this hard time, try to keep things as normal as possible and focus on the future.

A Brand New Start

Posted on February 13, 2020 by Emily

Hello everyone! I know it’s been a while since you heard from me. This past semester was a little tough. Like a lot of students, I realized the major I was in wasn’t the right one for me. It took some time to figure out because I really enjoyed the artistic and creative aspects of the Communication major, but when I took a Psychology class in the fall, I fell in love with that area of study. That’s why I changed my major to Human Factors Psychology. And even though I’m no longer a Comm major, I’m back to blogging and ready to share what I learned through this process.

For many students right out of high school, a big part of college is figuring out what you want to do for the rest of your life. That can be a lot of pressure! And sometimes students find out that the things they love to do for fun may not be as enjoyable when it becomes study and work. If you find yourself in this situation, you should know you’re not the only one! It’s OK to decide to change your mind. Just to put in perspective, I have a professor who has a PhD student assistant who told us he changed his major 6 times in his undergrad years. While most won’t find themselves changing direction that many times, it does show that you can switch it up and be successful, so don’t let anyone make you feel bad or dumb – just do what’s best for you, do the best you can and continue to learn and discover what you love.

I’ll also admit math has never been my best subject, and even though I did well in my first math class, things went south quickly in the next math class. I really struggled and I was too proud to seek help – I convinced myself I’d be able to figure it out like I had in my first math class. Which was a huge mistake! So I highly recommend seeking tutoring early and often. There’s so many tutoring options, and most of them are free, so there’s really no excuse not to. I learned the hard way so don’t be like me!

Things move quickly in college, so talking to professors, building a support system and connecting with resources before things go bad is really important to your academic and personal well being and health. College students can get so caught up in studies and activities, they neglect mind and body and that is no good. These are my greatest bits of advice that id like to give everyone based off of my own experiences in my fall semester. I just want everyone to take what I say so that you can apply it to your self and realize you are not alone, and its okay to have a bad semester, but to realize the steps you can take, and that also you can speak up and talk to your professors, counselors, and tutors. Embry-Riddle has a wide variety of people who are always willing to help you, and no one wants to see you fail. It’s just up to us as students to take the initiative to speak up and ask for help.

I hope everyone is having a good semester far, and I can’t wait to talk about my new studies in Human Factors Psychology and also my new adventures through my college career.

A New Semester

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Emily

Hello Everyone! I hope everyone has had an amazing summer and stayed safe during hurricane Dorian. To mark the beginning of the new semester at sophomore standing, I wanted to write a little advice for the new freshmen coming in. I know that starting college can be a little scary at first, it is in fact a lot different than high school. Professors are casual and laid back, you live in an unfamiliar place, there are new faces, and your success is entirely up to you. Your hands are no longer being held by faculty like in high school. This can be a lot for new students and from what I have learned, this can cause anxiety and depression issues among new students due to the massive amount of stress and change.

Rest assured that everyone at Embry-riddle wants you to succeed. We have countless options available to benefit all students. I wanted to start off on the topic of mental health. Obviously, everyone is excited to start their new college life, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any anxious feelings going around. Also, depending on the person, you may be feeling a little bit more nervous then others. It is completely okay to feel like this, my first semester was a whirlwind of nervous scared feelings. Eventually everyone settles in and gets used to the newness of being a college student. But not everyone stops feeling that way. Now, let me just say it is still completely normal to feel that way, but its important to know that there are options for help if needed. Embry-Riddle’s Health and Wellness Center has more to it then just a place to go if you’re feeling a little sick. It’s also a place you can rely on to talk to someone about any negative feelings you may be having.

My biggest advice to all new students is ask for help when you need it. Talk to your professors when you’re having trouble in class, talk to your academic advisors when you feel concerned about your schedule, classes, and major. Asking for help is one of the biggest factors of success at Embry-Riddle, especially when you’re a new student. Another big help that you can go to if you’re having trouble in classes is the tutoring options here at Riddle. For example, if you’re having trouble in math, writing, physics, engineering, or chemistry/bio, “A Squared” is the perfect place to be. It’s the Academic Advancement Center, home to tutoring labs in the College of Arts & Sciences. Riddle even has digital labs where you can get help making Powerpoint presentations, using Photoshop, making videos, and even learn how to better your speech capabilities. Use these options if you need them because they will help you.

Another Big Word of Advice I have for everyone, and you will hear this a thousand times over, GET INVOLVED. In high school you are pushed to get involved as much as possible, but I think we all kind of brushed it off and continued to do what we were doing. Now, it’s one of those super-important key factors that can only lead to success. What you get involved in now will only look good on your resume for future jobs. It’s highly recommended that you consider joining a student organization, sorority/fraternity, a school project, a club, or even study abroad. I have spoken to so many people that have gotten amazing jobs not because of their impressive GPA, but because of their involvement in extra curricular activities. Employers want to see what you did to expand yourself. I went to a meeting for communication majors, where graduates from the Communication major at Riddle talked about how they got their jobs and what they did in college. The first speaker said she got her job because of her involvement in clubs, the next speaker said her interviewer just asked her questions about her study abroad time, and the last speaker got her internship from projects, which led to a big career for her. I know we all roll our eyes a little when teachers talk about getting involved, but it all is important.

I hope I was able to provide a little bit of insight, or even inspiration. I know it’s all new and different, but don’t worry! Everyone here was once in your shoes and everyone helps and supports each other!

The Ins and Outs of ERNIE

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Emily

Embry-Riddle’s Network for Information Exchange or “ERNIE” is the system ERAU students, faculty, staff and applicants use to manage university business.

It’s no doubt that ERNIE will become your best friend throughout your college career. With ERNIE, you can stay organized, know when specific events take place, keep track of your funds, find textbook requirements, register for classes, contact professors, and so much more. I never quite realized how important ERNIE is for the students and professors here at Embry-Riddle. I’m going to give a tour of sorts on how to navigate ERNIE and explain some of the functions.

Using my ERNIE for some example screenshots, let’s review the 7 icons in the right-hand corner. This is where you will access your school email, and your OneDrive account, as well as find help, go into your settings, and see your “favorites”.

Speaking of “favorites,” let’s review the “tools” and “favorites” area located on your ERNIE homepage:

Some of your tools will be pre-populated, like Canvas and your Campus Solutions Student Homepage. You can quickly access Canvas (the learning management system used on campus to submit assignments, share documents, and access grades) in your Tools area. You can easily add more tools, like ALEKS the math placement and learning tool, RAVE, the emergency notification system, and many others. Simply click on the gear in the upper right corner to view more tools and add them to your dashboard.

Moving on to the menu that helps navigate information inside ERNIE, you’ll see some pretty self-explanatory categories: Departments, People, Forms, Training and Services. Of these options, perhaps the most useful to new students is Training. The training tab shows you how to do something in ERNIE. For example navigating to the Hunt Library, or learning to register for classes.

If you’re looking for information on tutoring, campus solutions, student employment information, or access your eagle card, you will find it under the services tab.

Your dashboard (sample pictured below) will help you to navigate to your class schedule, specific actions you need to take, and is an alternative way to access your Campus Solutions Student Homepage.

The student home page (pictured above) is probably the most important part of ERNIE for students. This is where you can check your funds and financial aid, view tuition due, see your graduation status, register for classes, access your academic advisor information and view your progress towards completion of your degree program. To access this page all you have to do is click the highlighted “Go To Student Homepage” link that is located in the Tools area, or the area where all your classes are shown. NOTE: applicants who have not yet enrolled will see an “Applicant Homepage” before they are assigned a “Student Homepage.”

There’s a lot to college, but ERNIE really helps minimize some of the stress by making it easier to manage business. It really just organizes everything and makes finding things easy for you, giving you one less thing to worry about. Hope this brief introduction helps introduce you to all ERNIE can do for you.

Last day of my First year!

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Emily

My first year here at Riddle is coming to an end. Although I will be continuing to take classes during the Summer B semester, I’m still super-excited about the fact that I am about to be a sophomore, officially! To commemorate, I wanted to do a throw-back of sorts and showcase some of my favorite photos, old and new. Starting with the old:

And now the new! The Yuri’s Night event featured space activities, music, snacks and celestial viewing through the telescopes in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Around Campus

Posted on April 15, 2019 by Emily

Spring is a beautiful time to stroll around campus.

And a great time to enjoy Bar-B-Que on the Quad while supporting a good cause.

Of course, spring also means finals so the library is a busy place!

Student Activities holds an Activity Fair every semester – there are so many clubs to choose from!

Inspiration at the Museums

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Emily

These past few weeks have been super exciting to say the least. As an aspiring artist, I decided to take a “study in art class” as my lower humanities course. Something super cool about this class is that we go on field trips to Daytona’s local museum. The Museum of Arts and Science (MOAS) is full of incredible Florida landscape art, a fantastic collection of Cuban art, and more. I have been there twice now, and I have learned a lot about history and unique culture. I was overwhelmed by the amount of art that is currently in the MOAS.

The Museum of Arts and Science in Daytona Beach, Florida

There are two buildings that make up the museum. The main building features exhibits such as the Cuban arts exhibit. I learned the collection was donated by Batista himself during the time he stayed in Daytona. This building features many more like the early Florida exhibit, where they even have fossils. The second building of this museum is called the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum, named for the generous donors and featuring their massive collection of Florida landscapes and historic Florida art. My pictures don’t really do it justice. Physically going to a museum really does take your breath away, whether you’re interested in the art or not, because you will find that it’s more than a piece of artwork, it’s history, culture and more. I highly recommend that you go, and if you decide to, go with your Eagle Card because Riddle students have free entry.

Touching base on another museum here in Florida, I had the pleasure of going to the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Tampa. It’s about two and a half hours away, but it was worth the drive. Not only is St. Pete beautiful, but it is also full of life. On Saturdays they have this huge farmer’s market full of different foods and music. But the main show was definitely The Dali Museum, seeing the art work is so overwhelming that I almost cried. You really get to see the fantastic thing that Dali was able to achieve, from Paintings, to film, fashion designs, and more. They even have a Virtual Reality feature that allows you to go “inside” his paintings.

If you ever get a chance to visit the Salvador Dali Museum, do it! They offer student discounts for entry. But don’t just go for the museum, go for St. Pete also. It’s a great place to visit!

Clubs, Greek Life & More!

Posted on February 1, 2019 by Emily

I couldn’t get a lot of pictures the past few weeks due to classes. I’ve been wracking my brain to think of something to write about for this entry, and was almost ready to throw in the towel, but I had sudden inspiration to talk about clubs and extracurricular activities and how fun and important they can be.

Since I started at Embry-Riddle, I have been told that joining clubs and being involved is key to college life. Many professors, and even former Embry-Riddle students themselves, say that being involved can help with job interviews internships by providing leadership experience and other skills. The faculty in my major, Communication, hosted an event where Riddle graduates came to speak with us. All of them told us about how most of their internships helped lead to a job, or that landed their job because of extra-curricular activities that they participated in during college. One of them said that their interview consisted of just talking about what she did in her engineering club and another about her study abroad trip. It all goes to show that the grades and your GPA will only take you half way when it comes to the real world. Employers seem to be looking for active well-rounded people for the most part.

Embry-Riddle has a vast number of extracurricular opportunities, from cooking, to creative writing, music, engineering, all the way to clubs about cultures. Even if you somehow can’t find an interest, you can create your own club with enough people and support from the school. Also, Riddle has a ton of different sororities and fraternities. Embry-Riddle’s Greek Life isn’t like other schools where it’s bikini car washes and frat parties all night long. Here, most don’t have “houses” but live in the dorms and function more like what seems a club, and they’re a lot more professional.

So many clubs! Cars, airplanes, academics, culture, skydiving, sailing – the list goes on and on!

I’ve been searching for something I truly like. I’ve gone to the school newspaper meeting, the aviation photography club meetings and they just didn’t click well for me. Recently I met someone in the same major as me (which is rare for a communications major), and she invited me to an event to meet a sorority. At first, I was reluctant because I’m socially awkward and was nervous. But I went to give it a try, and because I was looking to get involved and push myself anyway. I was absolutely delighted and mesmerized these fantastic women. Each one had their own special role and their own beautiful personality. They supported and loved one another like family and made me feel like family as well. Being a woman at Embry-Riddle can be overwhelming. I’ve had many classes where I was the only girl and I’m only in my second semester, so seeing all these empowering, friendly, and sweet girls was amazing! I’m sure from what I heard that joining a fraternity is a similar experience.

There’s something out there for everyone and I truly with all my heart encourage you to join a club, study abroad, or check out Greek life. Not only will you have a great time, make friends, and create memories, but you’re also setting yourself up for success when you try it out. I hope this small entry will inspire some to get involved and see how it can help you on your path of awesomeness.

First Weeks Back!

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Emily

The start of a new semester is always busy the first couple weeks. You’re learning what all your new classes entail, meeting new professors, and new people. It seems like it all happens so quickly and that can be quite the adjustment from high school, but after the second week or so passes it gets good. You get used to the new schedule and begin to enjoy all your new classes! It’s also important to stick to who you are as well. Through college you are going to learn numerous different things, but sticking to your hobbies and your passions is what keeps you true to yourself.

As we all know I love photography and that is my hobby. The beginning of the week, I was taking some photos around campus and I’d like to show you what I have.

Tips & Tricks

Posted on December 7, 2018 by Emily

As we all know, it’s the last weeks of the semester and that means FINALS! And, just simply trying to bring up your grades. But I feel like, as college students, we shouldn’t over stress ourselves the way we do. Sometimes taking time to relax is the best thing we can do because when you’re pulling all-nighters to study and cram in information the last few days, you will fry your brain. This was something I had to learn coming into college, as someone who has grown up with major anxiety, dealing with and handling the stress that comes from it has been something I had to learn. So, take from a master of sorts and maybe my advice will help someone out.

Study and break- Obviously you should study for your tests and classes, but don’t overdo. Don’t spend 2 hours in a row studying, take small breaks in between, take your time, and don’t fry your brain.
NO ALL-NIGHTERS! All-Nighters are not good for your health. It is very beneficial to you to get a good night’s sleep before a test and class. Your performance will suffer because your brain has not gotten the full recommended amount of rest. I know from personal experience that when I get a full beautiful rest, I realize I’m more aware, more refreshed, and just all around feel good.
Eat breakfast or a meal before your exam. This seems obvious, but I promise that being hungry during a test is not fun and can result in your feeling sick and will distract you.
Don’t study the day of. Cramming before an exam is not the best idea for your head because again you will fry your brain before you even go and take your test. The best thing to do is go to class and be prepared and with a fresh brain. This was some advice that my Math professor gave me and, so far, it helped me out so much. This may not be for everyone, but it can sure help some people who know the info but just is a over stresser.
Don’t over think it. Even if you’re worried about a test, the worst thing you can do is panic and over think.

Stress is something that we can all manage, and it can be quite easy to do with a little effort and self-awareness. Before a test or something big, it’s important to your mental health to treat yourself while you’re working hard. Relax, take a breather, and do something you love to do. This depends on the person, but here are some things I suggest doing that help me:

Art! I love to mindlessly paint, sitting back and just doing random drawing patterns, and of course editing my photos. This may not be for everyone, but it really does help me a lot.

Watch a movie! Unwind with a good movie, whether that be at the Theater or Netflix on your laptop. This is a great way to unravel, to escape and let your mind wander into and enjoy a movie. On campus, Touch ‘N Go (our schools entertainment coordinators pretty much) does free movie showings just about every week, and sometimes they do them outside on a big screen for all to see and enjoy.

And lastly, I would say spend time doing something fun with a friend. Having a good friend to just help you take some stuff off your mind and to just laugh and hang out is such a good way to relive some stress.

Hope this helps you to have stress-free finals and a stress-free holiday!

My Life @ Riddle

Daytona Beach Edition

Author Archives: Emily