It’s almost Thanksgiving! Finally we get to go home for some good home-style cooking. That’s one thing you miss out on when you are in college. The food is good here, but there is nothing better than a nice home-cooked meal on Thanksgiving Day. A lot of people have already made plans for their travel back home. As for me, I’m still not sure as yet. I had decided to stay here on campus to catch up on some flight training, but at the last minute, there seems to be a chance that I can go home for that weekend. It’s not a sure thing but I do hope I get to fly back home! In the meantime, it’s almost finals and we have a lot of work that is due in the next few weeks. I have been working long and hard on a few papers and projects and I am in the final stages of them. We start registering for next semester this week and finals are coming up in the first week of December. Looking back on this experience so far, it all went by quickly. There are a few days when it seemed really slow, but the weeks just flew right by.

A few weeks ago, we had our Homecoming weekend celebrations. Homecoming at ERAU is so much fun. We had a parade, comedy show, tailgate party, concert, sports games and also an air show! We got lots of free stuff and partied a lot. There is a lot of school spirit during Homecoming and everyone is just really cheery and excited! It was a very fun experience and I am looking forward to next year’s Homecoming.

Flight is just a blast right now. I am amazed at the things that I am learning right now. Every day is a new experience and I learn to adapt to the changes with the help of my instructor. As each day goes by, I become more and more independent in my training, as I am putting to action what my instructor has taught me. I have my first cross country tomorrow and I will be flying to Jacksonville and back. After that I will be doing a night flight and then back to cross countries. I am really excited about where I am so far in my training and I can’t wait to learn more!

As far as clubs, I am still active in TFO and First Generation. We’ve participated in a lot of fun activities so far this semester. Coming up this Wednesday, I will be attending a dinner at the President of the Universities house. I am so excited to attend because it’s a really big opportunity. I am going with First Gen and I have no doubt that we are going to have a blast. TFO is currently planning a BBQ, which should take place in a week or two. It is still in the planning phase, but things are coming together really well. I have put off working on the Avion for a while, because I have been very busy with school work and flight. They hate me for not being there but understand that I have to do my school work. I will be back on production once I have completed all my papers.

As the semester is coming to a close and we prepare for the spring, things are getting pretty serious on campus. Finals are coming up and the final papers are due soon. Now is the time to make a good grade or fail. As freshmen, it’s a wakeup call if you haven’t been working hard, but if you have, it’s just a little motivation to keep you going.

Thanks for all the emails, don’t be afraid to ask me questions. I’ll try my best to get them answered.
Until next time!

Well, we officially have less than a month of school. Whew, it’s been fun. I’m going to miss my Aeronautical Science classes.

Today was awesome! Remember how I told you guys that I would be taking a final in AS 420 which consisted of a simulator session on the computer? Well today, we did a practice version of the test. It was so awesome to see a group of 5 people working together as a whole. I was the captain and my group played the role of first officer, dispatcher, air traffic control, and the flight attendant. We all walked up to the “airplane” and began our preparation. My first officer and I ran the checklists, programmed the flight management system, and received our clearances out of Daytona Beach for a routine flight to Miami. After departure, we experienced an interesting issue at 21,000 feet abeam Orlando. The flight attendant called the cockpit and said that a passenger found a note written in Arabic and the passengers were a little upset. While my first officer and I discussed our plan of action, the flight attendant called back. He said that a passenger translated the message and it said that there was a bomb on board. The message indicated that it would explode 30 min after takeoff! My first officer and I immediately decided to divert to Orlando International Airport. I then proceeded to transfer control of the aircraft to my first officer while I explained the situation to air traffic control, the flight attendants, and dispatch. Everything went extremely well. I was very impressed on how much our professor’s stories and exercises helped us succeed in the cockpit! The situation was handled, and our aircraft touched down exactly 25 min after takeoff in Orlando. What an experience! I can’t wait to do the real test. Hopefully we will do as well as we did today.

I can definitely tell the semester is coming to a close. Next week is going to be the busiest week of the semester. I have 2 tests on Monday, a presentation and group paper due Wednesday, another presentation and group paper due Thursday, and my simulator exam in AS 420 Thursday afternoon. I definitely will be in the library all weekend preparing for next week.

Finally, for the past few weeks I have been trying to decide what my plans are after graduation. Well, I made the bold move and decided to get my masters! I’m really excited about it. My plan is to upgrade as a full-time instructor, hopefully, and then take master’s classes at night. I am going to apply for the MBA (Masters of Business Administration) program. It will not only prepare me for the constantly changing airline environment, but it will also help me be successful in my own life experiences. Also, I wouldn’t mind working in upper management for an airline and flying on the side later in my career.

Well have a great week everyone. I’m going to start on the pile of work I have for next week. Wish me luck!

Happy Early Thanksgiving! As of right now I only have 24 days left until the semester is over! I can’t believe how fast it has all gone by! This upcoming week is jam-packed with projects due, presentations, and a couple of tests; add on top of all that Air Force Finals and you have one stressful week. Oh well, because after that is Thanksgiving Break and time to kick back and relax before finals. This week I decided to switch it up a little and give an overview of what is up in all of my classes and then just highlight a few of the things I have done over the past two weeks.

MA 320 Decision Math
I do enjoy this math class; however, I’m still pretty excited that it is the last one that I have to take. On Friday, I have a test and it is the last one of the semester. The final is not required if you have A’s on all of the tests and an A average on the quizzes and homework. So I’m hoping that I don’t have to take the final because it would mean one less class to study for.

EC 315 Managerial Economics
Last week, we had our first homework assignment and it took me several hours to research and type up. The good part was I enjoyed doing the research because I was interested in what he was having us look up. This week we received another assignment and I have to write a small report on a jet engine manufacturer. I think I will enjoy that one too, and our library on campus has some wonderful resources for research, so finding information shouldn’t be too hard. The final for this class is cumulative-I think I might start studying some over Thanksgiving break.

BA 420 Production of Operations and Management
The project for this class was a group effort and we had to write a report on American Airlines and their operations. I procrastinated on this project and I think the rest of my group did too, but I know we will have it done in time. Also, we have to do a presentation and I know that we will rock that. Just remember when doing group projects that someone needs to be the initiator and get people motivated.

BA 314 Human Resource Management
This class required a group paper and presentation, also. My group has been outstanding so far and we could pick whatever topic we wanted to, as long as it related to Human Resources somehow. We chose to compare the business culture and some of the laws of the United States to China. Our presentation and paper are due on Thursday, so we are going to practice the presentation a couple of times on Tuesday and then we will be ready to present.

BA 320 Management Information Systems
This class deals with computers and their role in business. Another group project and presentation is required for this class. The project and presentation are also due on Thursday-Thursday is going to be busy! We have to design a computer network for a small business and provide a budget, timeline, and expectations. All in all, it has meant a lot of time in the computer lab researching and writing.

Air Force 201
All sophomores in AFROTC are required to take a one credit hour class that meets once a week. Last week, I gave my briefing on Weather Monitoring Sensors. We were handed a list of topics to choose from and I didn’t know anything about any of them, so I picked that one. It turned out really well and I learned about how weather data is collected in the Air Force. This coming week we have our final; I’m pretty excited to be done with one class!

For the second time, I donated blood and this time I didn’t get a huge bruise afterwards! Last time, the bruise on my arm lasted for about two weeks-it looked like someone had hit me with a baseball. Air Force participated in the Commander’s Cup and we won! The Commander’s Cup is a competition that takes place every semester between the different ROTC branches at either a soccer or basketball game. Each branch has several cadets compete against one another in various events such as: sprints, push-ups, pull-ups, and tug-of-war. Everyone gets pumped up and comes out to cheer their respective branch to victory. On Friday, we didn’t have classes and I spent the day helping get the Silver Wings float ready for the parade. heck out the pictures I posted! I was able to watch the parade and then the basketball game later that evening, which the Eagles won! The rest of the weekend was spent working on homework. I bought a small Christmas tree for my room and plan on decorating it with lights and putting it up soon. On Friday the 14th, I saw the space shuttle launch from a distance and it was pretty amazing! One time, I want to be able to see the countdown clock and then the shuttle launch because I think that would be awesome. This coming weekend is Silver Wing and Arnold Air Society’s Regional Convention, which I am going to since I am Regional Vice-President. I let you know how that goes in my next entry!

Any questions -send them my way!
Until next time,
Kaleigh

It is November now and most regions of the country have watched the leaves fall and are now watching the snow. However, this is Florida and I wore my first long sleeve shirt of the season last week. While Florida may not have seasons besides Hot, Really Hot, Afternoon Showers followed by Intense Humidity and Hurricane Season, I have found a more diverse option. For four and a half years, I have been a sister of a sorority and for a Floridian Greek, there are also four seasons: Recruitment, Pledging, Formal and Initiation.

While I like the other seasons because they are pertinent to our chapter’s survival, I am thrilled that right now is formal season. That means everyone will be scrambling to find their old prom gowns, borrow dresses from other sisters or rummage through the sale rack at Dillard’s. I found mine on the $10 rack with a broken zipper and thanked goodness that I actually passed sewing in Home Ec. Formal is kind of a hybrid between being VIP at a club and a high school dance. Think prom minus the stuffy up-dos and goofy dates. Or minus parents taking posed pictures by the fireplace mantle.

Skipping out of Daytona a few weeks ago, a couple of my sisters and I joined the Sigma Chi fraternity for their annual White Rose formal. The formal was held at Ginn Resorts in Orlando, a five-star resort with villa-style homes and a water park for resort guests. We rented out the three bed roomed, fully furnished homes and one of the large ballrooms for the actual dinner. Dinner was an assortment of steak, salmon, veggies and a dark chocolate mousse torte. Then the room erupted in karaoke, revelries and, of course, dancing. Clad in my newly sewn dress (which was a little tight following dinner) and a Σ Χ sweetheart tiara, I managed to put a stiletto hole in the bottom of the crinoline while dancing. Heck, at least the dress was just $10. I can’t say the same for our hotel bill the next day.

The following weekend was my last sorority formal. The sorority alumni were in town and the formal was held at the site of my first sorority semi-formal in 2005. Talk about bringing home the bittersweet memories. The food held no candle to Ginn Resort, but on the tables were our party favors, picture frames with personal pictures. For the evening, I had borrowed my dress from a sister, one worn to the Sigma Chi formal a week earlier. Following my misadventures dancing in my own dress the past weekend, I opted out of ruining someone else’s more expensive gown. Instead, I walked around looking at a half decade of photos with sisters past, present and those to be initiated this upcoming week. After my walk down memory lane, my group left to take a walk in our gowns down Beach Street. We figured Daytona could use a classing up for the evening and spent the remaining evening at a local hotspot, joined by other alumni in for University Alumni Weekend.

During the evening we talked about our initial contacts with the sorority and what our first impressions had been. We had heard the stereotypes, like “Don’t you pay for your friends?” “Did you join just to be popular?” “Aren’t there nightly pillow fights?” While I have yet to partake in a pillow fight in my four years as a sorority sister, I know I have paid a lot of money for social activities and philanthropies with friends and become a fixture on my campus. Then again, being a part of the elite female society alone makes you known on campus with or without the sorority’s help. It was because of that elite female society that I joined. Bluntly, I needed some estrogen in my inner circle. So, I guess those stereotypes are basically correct. But, stereotypes aside, there is something more I love about being Greek. No, we don’t always get along. We are a group of girls after all. But, we do share a secret bond.

This week in our final season, Initiation, and we will have new sisters at the end of it who will be a part of that secret bond. It will be their job to hopefully keep up the seasons and I can sit back and remember my seasoned times. And while it won’t snow outside or stay below 100 degrees during the summer, I can still hope for a pillow fight season.