Author Archives: Christine

About Christine

Graduate

Systems Engineering and Business Administration

Majors:Systems Engineering and Business Administration
Hometown:Port Orange, Florida
Campus Involvement:SSPOC Vice President, SWISE Public Relations Officer, Society of Women Engineers member, SHARK member, First-Generation Student Association member, Environmental Club member, Psi Chi International Honor Society, National Society of Leadership and Success
Why I Chose Embry-Riddle: Embry-Riddle has been my dream college since I was in Middle School. I remember attending the Astronomy Open House nights hosted by the ERAU Astronomy Club as a 14 year-old and imagining myself attending the university one day. I remember being so attracted to every major they offered, it was hard to choose one! I knew Embry-Riddle was perfect when my dream college was 10 minutes away from my house and that I already had so many connections there. I took Embry-Riddle courses through my high school and even received a scholarship for the ESPERS program when I was in 11th grade. I finally got to attend Embry-Riddle as a high school student before I even graduated. As a senior, I was offered the Golden Eagle Scholarship and started more research as to what program I would have liked to pursue. I couldn't be happier with my choice to attend ERAU and my education and experiences I have received from the community and university. I am eager to continue my education in January 2023 as I will be starting on my M.S. in Systems Engineering.

Headshots + Espresso Shots

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It is finally cool in Florida! I just love the coffees, crisp weather, and cute, cozy sweaters and blankets! It has been so busy for me this semester, but I am excited to share all of it!

So, back in March I attended WAI 2024 in Orlando, Florida where I met so many amazing women in this industry. I also experienced different events while I was there, including luncheons, dinners, job fairs, and even a massage! One of the things I was looking forward to the most after the conference ended was getting back my professional headshots that I took while at the conference. Equus Flight Academy hosted a professional headshots studio at the conference, so when I saw this, I jumped straight in line. I never had headshots taken before, and it’s been on my list of things to-do. It wasn’t too busy luckily, and I was the last one in line, so I got extra time. The photographer worked with me while I fixed my hair and applied lip gloss. I posed for a few shots and she said “Okay! You know what you’re doing!” It was so much fun and I was so eager to get the photos back, because she told me they came back awesome. And boy was she right!

Talk about a confidence booster! I love how they came out. Special thanks to this company for offering free headshots! Having opportunities like this really help students develop their social media pages and offer a way to showcase professionalism.

Speaking of, I just received a scholarship to fully fund my trip to WAI 2025 in Denver, Colorado! Special thanks to Gaetz Aerospace Institute for being in my life for almost 10 years now and providing so much for me over the last decade.

I finished up my Spring semester wrapping up my NASA project, and started working more hours at my job, well one of my jobs! I have been focusing on my LinkedIn Learning classes, learning MATLAB, NX, and even some animation software. I also want to pursue my STK Level 2 certification sometime soon.

I surprised my best friend at work with coffee since it was my day off and I wanted to do something nice for her. It really brightened her day and it made us both smile, since we haven’t seen each other in weeks.

Speaking of coffee, I really have been loving different types of coffee lately. Sometimes if it is too bitter, i can’t drink it. But Java Express coffee + doughnuts on Ridgewood Avenue is some of the best coffee and doughnuts I ever had. They have the best tasting coffee. This was something we used to get often when I worked at the Admissions Office on campus!

Dunkin also has their fall flavors out! I love getting a medium iced coffee with cream, smores flavoring, and the new marshmallow cold foam! My go-to all year is a medium iced cofffee with cream, blueberry and vanilla flavor shots.

Thanksgiving is in 2 days and it will be a nice break. Enjoying this cooler weather, taking a small vacation in Orlando to celebrate the holiday with our family and friends is going to be so good for my mental health. Just the boost I am going to need to finish the semester strong.

I can’t believe the semester is already almost over. I am so excited to continue my degree programs and start my thesis! This semester, I took FIN 518 Managerial Finance and SYS 500 Fundamentals of Systems Engineering. I am also brushing up on my engineering skills at my job as a satellite flight controller in Merritt Island, Florida.

I am making plans for the new year and I am so excited for things to come. There are many research projects, opportunities, conferences coming down the pipline for me, I will be sure to keep everyone posted!

Time to go study for my finals now. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Spring + Satellites

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So, remember that good news I mentioned in my last blog post? Well, it’s finally time to spill! We just successfully launched our satellite at the company I work for in Merritt Island, Florida! It was a super exciting moment in my career that I will never forget. I work in the Mission Control Center for Sidus Space as a flight controller. My job is to perform satellite operations for LizzieSat-1. I knew all of the hard work would pay off!

At the end of March, I got the incredible opportunity to attend Women in Aviation 2024 and stay in Orlando, Florida! I met some stellar women and made so many new friends! A huge thanks to Gaetz Aerospace Institute for being in my life since I was in high school and for funding this trip for me! The view from my hotel was amazing, the food was delicious, and the experiences unforgettable. It was like a mini vacation, only better!

I met so many people, including Dr. Sian Proctor, a commercial astronaut, professor of geology, artist, author, and science communicator! I saw many faculty, professors, and friends there too!

Having a huge background in aviation and aerospace definitely benefited me during my career and education. As a sophomore in high school, I was able to take Embry-Riddle classes including Private
Pilot Ground School, UAS Flight Mapping and Cross Country, and several meteorology courses through Gaetz Aerospace Institute. It made me even more encouraged to pursue my PPL (something that has been on my to-do list for a while now)!

After the conference during the first week of April, I managed to book a Disney vacation with my friends! It was so awesome to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Star Wars Galaxy Edge. We all dressed up and went to the park for the whole day! Who doesn’t get a bachelor’s in something space related and NOT love Star Wars?!

Did everyone get a chance to see that solar eclipse in April?! It was so awesome to be able to take photographs of the moon covering the sun. I will always remember that moment and where I was (with friends and family)!

I am happy to announce I successfully completed the Spring 2024 NASA L’Space NPWEE Proposal Writing Academy. It was an amazing experience to serve as the Principal Investigator of team #28 and it taught me so much I didn’t know about proposal writing. I even got the opportunity to sit on a review panel, work with modeling software (NX), and earn a skill badge! This summer, I plan to continue to work with that modeling software and become certified in NX. Thank you to all of my mentors and the incredible team at NASA L’Space and Arizona State University that make this happen for students like me.

Lastly, I just watched my fiancé graduate from Daytona State College this past week! I am so incredibly proud of him and his journey so far. I am fortunate that we both get to attend higher education institutions and pursue our biggest dreams together. Next stop for him: UCF’s Computer Science program!

This semester was definitely one for the books! I attended 2 conferences, finished another semester of my master’s programs, got to see a solar eclipse, and get to continue to work my dream job! I hope my fall semester is just as opportunistic and action-packed.

Ciao for now!

My February : SpaceCom 2024 + Valentine’s Day

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It has been so hectic already this year and it is only February. We found a leak underground at our house and needed plumbers to come in to dig up the floor, we had 2 family emergencies this year, and the Jaguars won’t be going to the Superbowl! Okay, that last one really isn’t terrible, but still! On the bright side, school has been going very well. I got the wonderful opportunity from our faculty advisor at Society of Women in Space Exploration (SWISE) to volunteer at a Space conference in Orlando, Florida called SpaceCom 2024 & The 50th Space Congress! I had such a great time both days of the conference. Some other SWISE members signed up to volunteer as well, and we all had a great experience!

The conference was held at the Orange County Convention Center. It was a huge place, but perfect for a conference! The walk from the parking lot to the convention hall was 15 minutes.

There was also an expo/ job fair going on there where I got to meet so many recruiters, companies, and officials. I even got a t-shirt from the Italian Trade Agency. It was nice to see my ancestor’s origin country so involved in the space industry!

I forgot how many benefits there are to getting up early: good lighting, fresh coffee, and best of all, a beautiful sunrise! I was up each morning at 5 a.m. to get ready, grab gas, grab coffee, and pick up some students from school to carpool. It was a clear, beautiful morning each day we went and seeing the sunrise alone was worth it!

The conference was a great time. This year, I will be attending at least 2 conferences, with the second coming up in March. I am so excited to be attending the Women in Aviation conference with Gaetz Aerospace Institute! This year must be my year of opportunities, because they just keep coming!

SWISE had the opportunity to feature Mrs. Samantha Bowyer as a guest speaker at our most recent general club meeting. She is a CFII and works at Embry-Riddle in the Aeronautical Sciences department teaching flight. I have known her for 9 years now: she used to be my teacher in high school when I was in the Technology Engineering Science and Aviation (TESA) Academy at Atlantic High School! It was so wonderful to see her again and catch up. I am glad I reached out to her to come speak at SWISE!

I love this time of year for its spring temperatures, beautiful flowers, spring break, Mardi Gras, and Girl Scout cookies! Cookie season has always been important to me: when I was a Girl Scout and even as an adult. I always supported my local troop and the girls by purchasing cookies! They now have gluten-free cookies for Celiacs like me – what a time to be alive. I always buy for family and friends too, especially if they don’t have access to any cookie booths.

Speaking of Girl Scouts, I am signed up to run the annual Trefoil 5K in Orlando next month! I will be going with some friends, and even some SWISE members if they want to sign up too! The 5K registration includes a t-shirt and a finisher medal (which I collect).

For Valentine’s Day this year, my fiance and I decided to celebrate the weekend before, since we both have things going on on the 14th. He surprised me with a steakhouse dinner on the water and some beautiful flowers. We celebrated in the city of Jacksonville and it was a wonderful time.

And finally I have some good news this year that is coming soon, so stay tuned!

Ciao for now!

Business & Engineering: The Dynamic Duo | Spring 2024 from the POV of a dual Masters Student

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It’s January and you know what that means: jumping back into nightly engineering homework and number crunching on balance sheets. Because our semester started on a Wednesday and because of Martin Luther King Day, it’s almost the end of January and I haven’t even started my Systems Engineering Organizational Management course yet. I am about to have my first “normal” week and I am ready to get back into routine. My accounting course is going well, on the other hand. I am so grateful for the professor: she is a gem! I highly recommend Dr. Nelson if you ever find yourself needing ACC 517.

We had our first SWISE meeting of 2024 last week and it was so much fun seeing so many new and returning faces. Our club goals for this year is outreach, volunteering, guest speakers, and the biggest one, conferences! We will be venturing to SpaceCom 2024 in Orlando at the end of this month and I couldn’t be more excited. Also, we are hoping to arrange a plan for the SWISE members to attend Women in Aviation in Orlando in March as well. To be continuted!

I am currently searching and applying to every internship in Florida that I can find. I even applied to a Walt Disney World Imagineering internship. I am specifically looking for systems engineering/aerospace engineering experience working with lunar or Mars systems, but any experience is good experience! I have applied to so many companies including SpaceX, Blue Origin, NASA, Disney, Lockheed Martin, etc. I am hoping I find an opportunity this semester, especially with all of the conferences I will be going to: something is sure to come up!

My schedule this semester consists of gym workouts in the mornings, studying at Starbucks afterwards, meetings on Wednesday mornings, Wednesday evenings, and Thursday evenings, Accounting 517 on Monday and SYS 660 on Tuesday evenings, and work all of the rest of the time. I am never not busy!

I did get accepted to the Spring 2024 NASA L’Space NPWEE academy and it has been going well so far! I took so many notes during my first meeting. It was information overload, but I loved it. I even made a new notebook on Goodnotes solely for my project. I highly recommend the Goodnotes notetaking app for iPad for any student!

As someone who wants to be part of the future team that launches the first manned mission to Mars, I am always thinking about my future. It becomes so much sometimes that I have to remember to take one day at a time, and to not compare myself unfairly to others. This is why I founded AstroChrissy: a social media account/mentorship business meant to inspire young women and professionals pursuing STEM topics. I landed some influencer jobs with some popular companies and will be doing contract work utilizing my videography and photography skills. I hope with my page and blog to encourage women studying STEM topics like myself and help other college students navigate through college. I hope my content will guide and inspire other young professionals to reach for the stars and never stop dreaming. I am so excited to see where my social media mentorship business takes me.

Remember to take time for yourself, eat healthy, don’t skip the cardio, and make time for your friends too! It is always so fun traveling to see friends on a weekend trip. It is the best way to get your mind off of things and have a fun night. I recommend board games, snacks, and laughter to make it an even better time!

There are so many good meals we eat on a weekend trip. It’s always a food story! Stonewood is not too far from Embry-Riddle and it is a must for celebration nights or midday lunch stops. Also, they have the best creme brulee ever!

2024 started off so well, and I hope it continues to bring good news, new opportunities, and in August, some home game wins. We spent our New Years Eve cheering on our favorite football team in Jacksonville, loridaL at Everbank Stadium. It was a night game, and so cold, but we got to be part of the light show which was awesome.

There are so many things going on for me this semester, so prepare to hear more soon. Cheers to a wonderful spring 2024 semester! Ciao for now.

Dear Spring 2024,

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You know that saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade?” Well, I have taken that expression quite literally in efforts to help my mental health. Sometimes doing crafts, cooking, or other mindless activities (somewhat mindless activities) can help your brain and mindset. I have heard things like, if you are angry, listen to music or workout, if you are sad, take a shower, and if you are overwhelmed, color a picture. These things are all ways to reset your brain, so-to-speak. I had the craziest last few weeks and with final projects, exams, and studying coming up, it is more important than ever for me to remember to “color a picture” from time to time…

A few weeks ago, I attended an alumni luncheon with the President of Embry-Riddle! It was a wonderful opportunity to talk one-on-one with the President, ask him questions, and listen to his speech to all of the alumni that attended.

Right after the luncheon, I attended the 2023 Halifax Art Show on Beach St. where I stumbled across a cannoli food truck that just happened to have gluten-free options. I was over the moon…

My classes have been going well. I like to think I have a cozy study area that helps me focus on studying. Sometimes, I go to the computer lab at the Student Union though. It just depends on the day, and the parking at school. It’s important to stay organized especially when things get busy.

Aside from my coloring pages and lemonade making, a fun game night does me wonders too. We have friends that live in Jacksonville, Florida and we like to get together a few times per month to have a game night. We play a bunch of different board games and oftentimes we order Insomnia cookies and bake pizza too. It is the best time!

It has been an eventful, busy semester. Life changes a lot, and you just have to keep your head up through it all. Life as a student can get busy, chaotic, and unpredictable, but taking things one day at a time, spending time with loved ones, and reminding yourself that you’re human are some of the best ways I have learned to cope with everything.

So, Spring 2024 semester, I hope you are filled with new opportunities, good news, and unlimited learning.

Ciao for now!

The Ring of Fire | Solar Eclipse 2023

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I slept in until about 10:30 a.m. and woke up to my fiance jiggling me saying “Hey, isn’t there a solar eclipse you wanted to see today?” I jolted awake remembering it started around 11:00 a.m. but I knew we weren’t able to see the whole thing from Florida. I made some coffee, got dressed, and my fiance and I hopped in the car to go run to a few stores for our weekend errands. When we got to Perrine’s Market in Port Orange, I got a call from one of my best friends in Jacksonville, Liz. She said “you have to look at the eclipse, you can see it now!” Luckily the car windows were tinted, so I pulled out my iPhone, pointed it aimlessly at the Sun, and when I checked my phone screen, I realized I just accidentally got some of the best photos of the eclipse!

It was amazing to see a crescent Sun and so clearly too! We didn’t need those fancy glasses and we didn’t need to look directly at it either. The cloud cover came at the best time! It blocked the glare from the Sun just enough to still see it on a digital image. I was so bummed thinking that because it was cloudy, we wouldn’t be able to see much of it… Boy was I wrong!

We also ended up going to the Apple store to check out the new Airpods Max, and well, we ended up walking out with two pairs. Happy early Anniversary!

I got this palm green color and they are just so sleek and beautiful. No more ear buds falling out of my ears at the gym when I am running or working out. As much as I love my Airpods Pro, they always fall out of my ears when I am working out. I am excited to use these over-the-ear headphones now!

So, I love the Fall season. The decor, the food, the outfits. I also love crafting and using coupons. Around this time of year I like to make a huge Michael’s Craft Store trip, and create (and sell) custom pumpkins! They are lightweight, totally customizable, and cute! I made 10 so far this season and am seriously thinking about turning it into a business. Maybe I can even get on QVC one of these days! I can dream…

I went to Port Orange Family Days over the weekend and it was perfect weather for it! I ended up getting these cotton handmade headbands from Lauren of Crafty Little Witch Creations. I got a Jacksonville Jaguars design, a sunflower design, and a pumpkin design!

We also got some Gran Arepa corn cakes. These are my favorite food truck treat.

I love going to the Port Orange City Center to walk when Family Days isn’t in town as well. There is a large lake with a sort of nature trail. Also, there are so many turtles that live in the lake! I found this baby sun bathing on Sunday at the festival, and I think this is the smallest turtle I have ever seen in this lake. They are usually huge! Can you spot it?

I also made my way to Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens. This is another spot in Port Orange that is a must-see if you have a love for nature, plants, and flowers. All you need is some sneakers and a good camera, and you have yourself a beautiful day ahead of you. I used to volunteer here when I was in High School and I loved gardening and tending to the nature trails. It is so peaceful and it gives you a nice break from the hustle and bustle of life.

Is it fall break yet? Ciao for now!

-Christine

My Fall 2023 Semester as a Dual Masters Student

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I woke up this morning and it was 59 degrees outside: heaven! The weather is finally starting to change and I am already getting out my cozy sweaters and winter boots. I know it doesn’t get too cold here in Florida, but when it does get cooler, it is magical. There is a nostalgic smell in the air for me, a cool breeze that tickles your skin, cozy Halloween decorations on the neighbors’ front porches (including mine), and all of the Autumn movie specials on Hallmark. As much as I love the Summer months and the beach, I think Autumn is my favorite season. This beautiful wreath is from Kohl’s in Port Orange and it was 50% off! Could you tell I love shopping for Fall decor?

Not to mention the other best part of fall: the food and drinks! My favorite coffee from Starbucks right now is a grande pumpkin spice latte with vanilla cream cold foam on top. This coffee is from the Starbucks in Cocoa Beach, FL near where I work.

I just recently celebrated my 25th birthday in September and it was a special one. Not only was it my first birthday as a Masters student, but we celebrated at Magic Kingdom during Mickey’s Halloween Party. My birthday was always the first mark of the Fall season. My fiance and I ate dinner at Cinderella’s Castle, rode some fun rides, and took the best photos!

I got to celebrate my 25th birthday with multiple friends and family members. We had another birthday dinner at Ocean Deck Restaurant & Beach Bar in Daytona Beach. It is right on the beach and they have delicious food.

We did end up with a few hurricanes skirting by over the first few months of the semester. It is always fun for me to prepare for a storm, although I never actually wish one would hit us. They can be devastating, but I grew up preparing for hurricanes since I have lived in Florida my whole life. Actually, I think there is another one forming as I type this post…

Just last week I was woken up at 4:45 am by the National Weather Service’s emergency alter announcing a tornado warning for northern Volusia county. So there we were, myself and my two 8 year old nieces piled in the bathtub taking cover to “stay vigilant” at 5:00 a.m. while my fiance and his cousin moseyed around other parts of the house to check for signs of tornado activity. We ended up getting no damage or strong winds, but it is always something here. Despite Florida getting so many storms and heat waves and tornadoes, it never fails to amaze me how beautiful this part of the country is.

Life at school has been busy. The Society of Women in Space Exploration (SWISE) had our first 2 meetings of the semester, and we are currently planning our Halloween party and some fundraising events. I love my girls!

Studying for graduate-level courses is next-level. I really enjoy the content I am learning about. I know it will prepare me for a successful future in the industry. I am currently taking a strategic marketing class and a systems engineering quality assurance class. Starbucks in the morning is my saving grace study place, until it gets too noisy, then the computer lab is my next best place.

My fiance is from Jacksonville, FL so we frequent the large metropolis every other weekend or so to visit family and explore the city and region. We also go to the Jacksonville Jaguars home games at Everbank Stadium. We have season tickets and we both really enjoy football!

I recently left one of my 5 jobs to make more time in my schedule. After almost 4 years, I will no longer be working at the Admissions Office on campus. I will truly miss the faculty and staff that I have made connections with during my time there. I told everyone that I will come back to visit every now and then, and maybe bring doughnuts too.

Embry-Riddle has been my home away from home since January 2020. Living right down the street has been a blessing; being able to commute 8 minutes and be at my university, and then to go back home to my family at the end of my day. I couldn’t ask for a better environment to learn, grow, work, and live (half of the time).

Here is to 25 years and many more to come!

-Christine

My First Semester as a Dual Master’s Student

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It is officially May and my first semester of graduate studies has come to a close. The last 6 months have been so eventful, but so enriching in many different ways. I can’t wait to tell you about the last 6 months of my life!

Over the Spring 2023 semester, in addition to working at the Admissions Office and as a blogger, I got the opportunity to work as a graduate student assistant for the College of Business, partaking in different campus-wide events. I was able to continue to serve as the President of the Society of Women in Space Exploration (SWISE) Embry-Riddle chapter, promoting diversity and women empowerment in the field of STEM and space exploration through our outreach and meetings. SWISE attended beach cleanups, tabled around campus, and attended the E-week awards ceremony at the College of Engineering where we were awarded a plaque for our continued efforts in the fields of diversity, equity, and inclusion. I also had the opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends more than ever! It seems like the busier my schedule has gotten, the more organized my life gets…

SWISE E-Week Awards Ceremony Spring 2023
College of Business Beach Cleanup

There were so many other cool opportunities this semester including volunteering to table at the Graduate Programs table for the College of Business, presenting to the New Smyrna Public Library about the ARTEMIS program, and continued work for Sidus Space in Cape Canaveral.

Sidus Space got to honor one of our employees at the We Venture Women Who Rock Awards Ceremony. It was a nice luncheon that showcased all the awesome women in all sorts of different lines of work who were nominated!

Earlier in the semester, I attended one of the astronomy open house nights at the College of Arts and Sciences. My friend and I attended the public lecture where we got to see an hour-long presentation from SETI’s Seth Shostak about alien exploration in the universe. We also got to head over to participate in cool STEM arts and crafts, as well as look through the 3-meter telescope on the 5th floor!

I got to spend time with my family and friends too. I ran a St. Patrick’s Day 5K race in New Smyrna with one of my best friends and then got to enjoy pizza while doing homework!

Being an alumni is an honor, but I am even more grateful that I get the opportunity to continue my education as a dual Master’s student pursuing my M.S. in Systems Engineering and an MBA simultaneously. I received an alumni package in the mail that was a nice gesture and testament to my legacy at Embry-Riddle. I am so grateful to be on such a beautiful campus!

As many of you might know, I graduated Magna Cum Laude with my B.S. in Spaceflight Operations in December 2022. It was a beautiful ceremony that I will never forget, honoring all the hard work I put into my undergraduate degree. I know this graduation was only one more in the books of many still to come.

My last bit of good news (for now): over Christmas break and into the new year, I got engaged! It was on Christmas day in front of our friends and family. It was such a beautiful surprise and the perfect end to my year!

Wow! What a jam-packed semester. I made Dean’s List, passing both of my classes and having a 3.5 GPA. I am so excited for more adventures in the Fall semester. I am already looking into Ph.D programs, like MIT’s Ph.D in Astronautics and Aeronautics or Stanford University’s Ph.D in Astronautics. This year has been great so far, now time for a fun, relaxing, and much-needed summer break. My fiance and I are headed to Orlando in 2 weeks for a 4-day Disney vacation. I got our Disney tickets discounted through the university. It pays to be a student employee! Also, I will be working full-time for Sidus Space while continuing my research on radiation shielding and preparing to present at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2024 (fingers crossed)!

Disney tickets for May 2023 from Embry-Riddle’s ICI fitness and recreational center

I am so grateful to be an Embry-Riddle student with so many awesome opportunities still to come. Cheers to the summer semester, no matter if you are pursuing classes, working, or just relaxing on vacation half the time. Everyone deserves a relaxing break… Reach for the stars!

First Week Back to School!

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“So, do you have any plans for the Fall semester?”

“I am graduating!”

I found myself talking to many friends, family, and co-workers about my plans for Fall. I told many that I currently have 4 jobs now. I told others that I am taking five classes. I told some that I am graduating in December. Many I told all 3 of those things.

I knew this was going to be a busy semester and I was looking forward to it. I am taking 5 Spaceflight Operations courses, I am currently serving as the President of SWISE (Society of Women in Space Exploration) and the Vice President of SSPOC (Spaceflight Sciences Policy and Operations Club). We have so many exciting events planned this semester and will get to go to SpaceVision 2022 in Chicago this year! SpaceVision is a conference held annually that allows students and professionals to learn, network, and grow their teams or potentially land an interview for a company! In addition to my 5 classes, I am working 4 jobs. Waitressing, office work, blogging, and being a flight controller all at the same time is hard to balance! Life is a balancing act though and to succeed, you have to find the time and focus.

I believe mental health is a huge deal, and especially this semester I have been focusing on it more than ever. Balancing life present day is hard for everyone! I always make time for myself to wind down, relax, and do something nice for me and my body. Now that the new Fitness Center that just opened on campus, I can spend some time in the mornings doing my stretches and workouts. The pool is another great feature students can use to relax and go for a morning (or evening) swim. Also, they have classes you can take that are usually held upstairs in one of the studios. The cycling class looks pretty fun to try.

These first few weeks have been great! I am currently searching for a new executive team for the SWISE to help run the club through our social media page, I already purchased my textbooks, organized my planner, mapped out my classes, and attended the first SSPOC meeting which turned out to be so fulfilling. We had about 50 members show up (new and old!).

I found time to spend outside of school the last few weeks too. I spent time with family and loved ones, had a cookout on Labor Day, and even tried a new combination of my two favorite Italian ice flavors (cotton candy and blueberry) at Jeremiah’s Italian Ice at OneDaytona! I recommend this place to any Riddle student looking to have fun, make new friends, and have some great ice cream. We always make new friends at this spot and it is always busy at night bustling with music, lights, and gelati-lovers.

Although I am graduating, this won’t be my last semester here. I am currently applying to the M.S. in Systems Engineering at the Daytona Beach campus! I am so grateful I get to continue my education here at Embry-Riddle. I can’t wait to see what else this semester brings! Until next time!

How I Secured My Sidus Space Internship | Summer 2022

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“I don’t think I will be getting an internship this summer,” is what I kept telling my boss at Embry-Riddle Admissions. “I applied to over 75 positions and over 30 different companies, and nothing came back!” I was preparing to stay at home for the summer and continue to work in the Admissions Office, despite the fact that I really needed an internship. That all changed when I decided to reach out to Sidus Space in Cape Canaveral, FL.

I remember being on the computer and stumbling across one company with a purple and black logo that had a satellite on it. I said to myself “I should look at their internship positions if they have any, this looks like a cool company!” I researched the website and watched some cool videos on the company’s goals and operations. I clicked on the “Careers” tab to look for positions. Sure enough, they did have internship positions available; however, their only position open at the time was for a finance internship. I decided to apply anyway because I would take any internship I could get at this point. I also e-mailed the company after applying to this internship just to introduce myself, attach a CSV/resume, and tell them what I am studying. Within a few hours, I received a call from one of the recruiters named Tina at Sidus Space. She told me she got my e-mail, was impressed with my resume, and sent me directly to the Vice President of the Mission Operations Department. I was so happy to hear that I had an interview with the Vice President of that department. I could finally have the chance to not only get an internship, but get an internship in the same field as my dream career is in: mission operations.

Interview day came and I was ready to talk to the company. After a short 30 minute meeting with a few company personnel, they were ready to set up a second interview as well. Things were looking great and I quickly jotted some notes down to prepare for my next meeting the following week.

Tina reached out to me to tell me that they hired a new Mission Operations Director and that I would be meeting with him now instead. I was fine with that and was open to meeting new people. The director I met with during my second interview was so knowledgeable and friendly. He worked at NASA Johnson Space Center as a Flight Director for 23 years! “I couldn’t ask for a better manager if I got this position,” I told myself. Soon after the meeting ended, they informed me that they would call me if they thought I was a good fit for the company.

After a short review of how the meeting went and a short period of time, I got the phone call: “We would like to welcome you to the Sidus Space team.”

These words rang in my head as the recruiter spoke them over the phone. I was jumping for joy at the fact I got an internship, and with weeks to spare! This internship started on June 1st, and I was told in April that I had got the position. I informed my Admissions boss that I finally found a company to intern for and that I would be back in the Fall.

Weeks leading up to the internship I had to fill out paperwork, sign agreements, and prepare for my training. I also had to set up an appointment with Career Services, and fast, to get credit for my summer experience. I didn’t know what to expect at the internship, so I went in open-minded and well-prepared. I brushed up on my math and science skills, prepared some professional outfits, and acquired some blank notebooks, as I knew I would be taking a lot of notes.

The process of securing my internship was lengthy and uncertain at first. With persistence, knowledge, and optimistic thoughts, I pursued my search even into late April, days/weeks before the spring semester ended. I recommend to other students like me not to give up. As a first-generation college student, I was also the first in my family to receive an internship like this. Nonetheless, every employee had nothing but positive things to say about me by the end of the summer. I persevered through everything that was thrown my way, defying the odds even when things looked bad.

Present day, it is the end of my internship, but Sidus Space offered me a job! I am now a Certified Flight Controller for our satellite, LizzieSat. Within the next few months, I will be working remotely while attending my fall classes at Embry-Riddle. Juggling both school and work will be a challenge, but it will prepare me for my career even more than my internship experience did. Always remember to shoot for the stars and dream big! You never know what would have happened if you didn’t.

Flight Controller 1
Flight Controller 2