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.

Natalie

Editor’s Note:

Natalie came to Embry-Riddle as a freshman in 2007. She shared her first year experience with us then in her online journal. You can view it here.

We’re pleased to congratulate Natalie on her internship at NASA. She’s blogging her experience there and we invite you to follow Natalie as she embarks on this exciting and prestigious adventure. Visit her blog at nas-at-nasa.blogspot.com.