Hi Guys,

School is coming quite OKAY. I must admit that the first year, like everyone else says is very difficult because of your new surroundings. I had exams in pretty much every class except Speech. In Speech I am doing the best because there are no exams. I do pretty bad on exams. But I catch up quickly. In Chemistry, I am currently doing worst because I rushed my test. When we reviewed it, I knew like 33/40 questions. Quite Embarrassed I am. But I got just over half of it. The final exam replaces the lowest score so I will be fine.

In Speech, we perform speeches on Videotapes. Not to scare you, it really is not bad because you get to know your classmates and so that builds you up. I have a major speech coming up next week with a group which is all nicely organized and planned. We have to individually perform speeches about a certain topic we picked that is controversial. We chose Youth Crime. A lot of research that can be done!

We have Chemistry class and Chemistry Lab. Chemistry class I already mentioned at the beginning. The lab is much harder. We have about 70 minutes to complete each lab with about 10 questions to fill out. So if you don¹t finish, you have until 2 pm that day and 10 points will be taken off. It¹s pretty hard but I am averaging a C or better hopefully because I am catching up like I said.

My Math test I got a 82 so I am not doing bad in that class. The only ones that worry me is Chemistry. I was never good in those subjects but College does it for ya ! All the other ones I am doing okay also. My main goal is however to strive for 3.0+ But I do not know if that is going to happen. Maybe close. Which is still good for first year college I think.

After classes, there is a lot of freedom which many students do not use to study, including me! But of course I use the time wisely and do study when its necessary. Now I know this is a short journal and I¹m sorry!! The next one will be much longer I promise as my speech approaches, Wish me luck !!!

AIM : Mafia6663

-Dinko

Whaaaaaaaaazaaaaa,

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. Mine was alright. I had a chemistry exam and Psychology. I¹ll let you know what I got on them when you contact me J . By the way ..only one person contacted me and read my entire journal, I found that pretty unique.

I was supposed to go home this weekend to St.Petersburg, Florida where my parents live and spend the weekend there but I have a Math Exam on Tuesday so I chose to stay here because its harder to focus at home with all those distractions going on around you. My classes are still going pretty well except chemistry, I was not happy what I got on my exam. I rushed it and didn¹t do too well. Over the weekend I got in touch with several of my friends back from home in St.Petersburg, Florida too bad not Europe, its expensive over my cell phone. But it was nice, I talked to my friends and told them that I will probably be going home in 2 weeks for the weekend unless another Exam interrupts me.

So my friend Justin broke his collar bone playing Ultimate Frisbee down near the ICI Center (sport complex). It is funny how people imagine that sport as being so innocent. Well, he jumped to dive to get the Frisbee, he succeeded but fell on his shoulder as if someone dropped him upside down to the ground. So I drove in his car and took care of him for like two days and felt very bad for him. Since the collar bone is one of the most sensitive bones in the body required for movement, it is very hard for him to move such as taking showers, dressings.etc. I helped him with the best I can. A few days ago he had to go back to the hospital and they put a cast around his shoulders and armpits. At least he looks buff now with his whole shoulders being placed back and straight up. I wish him well.

A car here at Embry-Riddle is not really THAT important. If you need to go shopping or such, there are always people around that have a car and that will drive you. If you just want to kill money and time + gas, then go for it. I personally don¹t believe you need a car unless you are planning on getting an OFF-Campus job. Many students work on campus and have a flexible schedule. Here at Embry-Riddle, many people understand the need for your work to be done, so if you needed to leave your job or something they would understand. Now off campus, I would say it would probably be different.

If anybody is considering a visit, I encourage you to do so and so does probably everyone else here. When you visit your University you are planning to attend you just feel different. You can ask questions from people who are NOT trying to take your money, but to help you. Our Financial Aid Office is beyond exceptional, they do all the work for you with the lenders.

I know its been a short journal, so I haven¹t done pretty much anything over the weekend. I pulled another ALL-Nighter on Saturday (for no reason) with my buddy and now I am tired. So guyss let me know if there is anything I can answer for you. I already did for one person, and thanks for reading it ALL!! – Dinko R.

What’s going on guys.

My Name is Dinko and I have lived in the USA for 8 years. I am originally from Bosnia, but I moved to Germany at the age of four because of the war in Bosnia.

My Parents came to this country only because of one reason, me. They want me to get an education. They received theirs in Bosnia but that was all destroyed. So here we are with nothing, just as we were when we entered Germany. You can contact me if you want more information about me.

Ok….so I read this Journal thingy just as you did, my year prior to entering College. How is it? I’d say its freedom. You really think its so hard and all day studying…etc….But no no no . That’s when exams are around. When classes are present, you might want to just review your stuff so you don’t lose track of that. But since ERAU is a private college, it is not like the public ones where you would have over 100 kids in a classroom. Right now my biggest is about 60. The rest about 30. Some 15. You choose your classes when you come with a person that helps you throughout your four-year program, which is called (AD – Academic Advisor). Now in the Fall, you will have about five to six classes. All of those classes will be broken up which means you will have maybe three on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. The other three or two on Tuesdays and Thursdays. So its unique and you won’t get tired. You have so much freedom after your classes that you don’t know what to do with it. But just don’t be a clown and do nothing.

Attendance is pretty much taken by all instructors, but there are a few that do not. So it is mandatory to attend since it represents about 20% of your grade. Most students here lack sleep and therefore sleep in. They go to bed around 4 and have class the next morning. That is no good because I do it and did it ( But never skipped a class). The dorms are OKAY here. Some Universitys are worse where bugs are all over the place. I haven’t seen one here since maintenance is really good around the campus.

I am a guy and of course I expect to see GIRLS GIRLS, but no. Embry-Riddle’s ratio guys to girls is pretty high so not many girls are around here as you would expect in a Public University. But there are of course many that you can talk to and hook up (smiley). Getting into the College, I would say to get recommendation letters, especially if you are Flying, from Instructors or any Retired Pilots because that is one of the key entries also. But if you have a really low low GPA than it will play too. Now Embry-Riddle is easy to get into, but one of the hardest schools to stay. Now the school has created this class called University 101. It teaches you how to prepare your life here and how to study effectively. They will give you the history about ERAU and its current status, pretty interesting, a 1 credit class that is very easy.

My major Air Traffic Control has been decided by me at the beginning of my Sophmore year in High School. I graduated from a Medical Magnet High School in St.Petersburg,FL and I wanted to become a Cardiologist but realized that I don’t want to be in school for 10+ years. So I heard ATCs talk over the internet and was amazed by their communication. So I got into it and started to listen more. Soon I started to practice it via Flight Simulation over the Internet with real people on Multiplayer. I learned all the Approach Plates phraseology..etc that was essential to Air Traffic Control. I decided that this will be my major.

Now for you guys who want to reach me and ask me questions feel free to do it anytime, I do not mind, I would love to help you guys out. My E-mail is DinkoResidovic@hotmail.com and my AIM screen name is Mafia6663. Feel free anytime to drop me a message. It was a pleasure to write my first journal and I appreciate whoever read the ENTIRE Journal, it was very kind of you.

P.S For those who say I don’t have enough money for education, I don’t believe you.