The first day at any new place can be very interesting and exciting. My first day started at 8:00am for intern orientation. One piece of advice I would give would to be there early and make sure you know where you are going! I got into town on Sunday and made it a point to drive over to the campus and make sure I knew where I was supposed to be and park, etc. Showing up late on the first day is never a good start.

Anyhow, I got there early and we started our orientation. That pretty much took up the entire morning and was mostly presentations from different departments with information we needed to know about the company and working environment. After the orientation my boss came over and walked me over to the plant where I’d be working and showed me my office and introduced me to everyone around the office. Between meeting everyone and getting things set up I didn’t have much time to actually start on anything.

Luckily for me I had all of Tuesday to get reading the materials they had for me on all of their projects and especially the ones I’d be working on. It’s a necessary evil to any job, just stacks of technical papers to get acquainted with things, but it is important if I want to be of help to them this summer. It was a long day but I learned a lot, so it wasn’t too bad.

The next day, and for the rest of the week for that matter, things started to pick up a lot. I started out helping with documentation, which may not sound romantic, but it’s a very important part of the business. The group I’m with is a Systems Engineering group which means they do all of the top level design work and requirements information, and then they hand down the component constructions to the different specialties. It’s a very interesting task to start to compile one of these documents, which is what I was doing. It gives you a lot of respect for a design team, as you start going through a simple device and breaking it down and discuss what requirements it needs to have and then how you design in those requirements; and subsequently test to make sure they are indeed satisfied.

Currently there are two documents I’m working on for one of our projects. The first is a document that discusses the primary item specifications. This document breaks down requirements into many subsets and can later be used to verify that the final device meets the customer requirements. The second document discusses the interfaces that our product will have and what kind of data will come out of the different connectors. This allows the customer to begin to design both the hardware and the software that they will need to integrate our device into their system.

Well that’s my first week hopefully next week I’ll get into the lab and be able to help do some testing and simulation on some of the other units that we currently have!

It’s Thursday night and for every Continental intern that means packing time! Every Thursday night we get our travel bags ready to jump seat to the destination of the weekend. For me that place is Seattle , Washington. My roommate and I are traveling out there for the weekend and meeting up with a friend of his. We aren’t sure where we are saying or how we are going to get around but that’s half the fun of just jumping on a plane somewhere.

This will be a nice vacation from the MD-80 ground school I have been in for the past week. We are cramming all the systems and operating procedures of the airplane in our heads in only a week’s time. Next Wednesday we begin our actual simulator training with an instructor in the full motion simulator. I can’t wait!

My time here is going by so fast because they keep us so busy. I haven’t had a free weekend to explore Houston except for the first weekend we were here. After that I flew to Washington D.C. , then to Orlando, and this weekend Seattle. Not sure yet where I will go next weekend but I’m thinking San Francisco or maybe Boston. I’ll check the flights next Wednesday and make my mind up then. For now though I need to pack!

It has been a great first week. On the first day, I attended a marketing department meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to familiarize the department with the intentions of Boeing, on their recent acquisition of Aviall Services, Inc.

I have been working on many promotions, such as Champion spark plugs and Dupont. These are programs designed to give the customer more for their purchases. They are very popular and time consuming. Not by any means is this an “intern job”. If I was not assigned to it, someone getting paid a hefty salary would have been doing it. I love it! I’m also honored at the amount of responsibility they trust me with. Today I was given a project to create flyers for new headsets that are being introduced very soon. They are for companies all pilots are very aware of, but due to confidentiality issues, I cannot drop any names.

The company has also grown since my last visit. They almost did not have any room to fit us in. They are going to expand the warehouse two hundred thousand square feet and will be constructing a new building across the street. It means business is booming, which is always a good sign.

As for the social scene, it has been a blast. It was just like coming back to school after a summer vacation, and seeing all the friends I missed. There was a welcome luncheon for us. We ate and learned all about each other. They also include us in all of the “business lunches”, even after hour social events. It really is great to be part of the team.

The process of getting an Internship was very enlightening for me. I learned a lot about the corporate world and how things really work.

My first stop was to our Career Services office. I had a resume and cover letter all set when I met with my Career Service advisor for the first time. Our first meeting included going over both of those documents and her giving me a lot of good suggestions on style, format, and content. We also discussed my interests and what kind of internship I was looking for. It was a good start.

So I got to work on editing and updating my resume and cover letter. I also hit the Internet; many of the major companies want students to apply online these days due to the high number of applicants. This is convenient because it’s quick and easy to apply; however, it’s not the most effective way to get an internship or co-op.

From my experience, and that of my friends, the best way to get an internship or co-op is to create connections with people in the company that you’re interested in. This may sound hard but it’s really not. Make it a point to get to know your professors and to get involved on campus. Our professors have many contacts in the industry and if they know you and respect you they’ll be more than likely to get you in touch with someone that can get you in.

This is how I got my internship opportunity. Last year I got involved in the Satellite Development Group on campus, it was a good learning experience to get hands – on experience and to get to know some professors out of the classroom environment.

This spring one of those advisors heard from a friend of his at Honeywell that they were looking for interns for the summer. Knowing I was searching he offered to pass along my resume. This is the best way to get you resume read and get to an interview. When you apply online you r resume is not necessarily read by a person and it’s hard to make yourself stand out to the computer.

Anyways, about a week later I heard from my adviser’s contact at Honeywell and set up an interview with him for the next week. Since this Honeywell campus was in Clearwater , Florida, (near Tampa ) I offered to drive out there to do an interview in person instead of doing one over the phone. This is another good time to go see Career Services and set up a mock interview. They are very helpful and get you thinking about how to present yourself, and you seem more polished when you do the actual interview.

Well to skip the boring details I went down and got a tour of the facility and did the interview which went very well (you just have to be yourself and be interested). I heard back about 3 weeks later from them with a job offer.

Getting a Co-op/Internship here at Embry-Riddle is rather easy. One might be surprised about the opportunities available. While paperwork can be a pain, it is a normal part of the process. Getting a few signatures from different departments is something we are all used to here at Embry-Riddle, so not really a big deal.

I found out about Aviall from a friend and got all of the details from one of the advisors in Career Services. I was immediately interested in Aviall because it was , and still is , a company in the aviation industry that is doing very well. They were interested in students with knowledge in the maintenance field as well as business. I thought I would be a good candidate because I have my A&P mechanic certificates, which I received when I was in high school. In my internship I hope to gain as much knowledge as humanly possible! This is going to be my second summer with Aviall. If I can learn as many interesting and new things as I did last summer, it w ill be great.

I know that the professional relationships we make with the companies and the reputation of Embry-Riddle are of the utmost importance, but the personal relationships are of unparalleled importance. Aviall is a very laid-back kind of company, friendly and accepting of anyone that has an interest in the aviation industry. While with the company, I was treated like any other employee and the work I did was beneficial to the business. The personal relationships I made will be ones I keep for the rest of my life, may they be friendships, mentors, or just people that want for me to succeed in life.

It’s been a busy week here in Houston. I had my first jump seat experience this weekend and it was amazing! I flew from Houston to Washington, D.C. to visit my parents for Mother’s Day. I have flown into D.C. a hundred times but never seen the flight from the flight deck. I learned so much about flying large transport category aircraft by just observing the crew. It is a great learning experience and the free travel isn’t bad either.

I begin MD80 simulator training next week and I am scrambling to learn all the aircraft systems and checklists before the first day of ground school. I am in the first group of interns to take part in the simulator course and am not sure what to expect or exactly what to study , so I will just have to study everything.

Tonight some of the interns and I went to the Astros baseball game to see Barry Bonds try to hit homerun number 714. Even though the Astros lost and Bonds didn’t get his homerun it was good to sit down with the other interns to talk about what we have been doing. We really don’t see too much of each other, at least the interns we don’t room with. We wake up early and stay late at work or at the training center studying MD80 systems. I t seems like I walk into the apartment and it’s already 9 p.m. I haven’t eaten yet, still in my dress clothes, catch up with my roommates and by the time I look over my e-mail and relax it’s midnight and time to head to bed to wake up at 6 to catch the shower rotation. But I can’t complain , I love it here and look forward to every day.

This week I’m planning on jump seating down to Orlando to visit my girlfriend, I’m a little worried because it can be tough to get flights into and out of Orlando, especially in the summer months. But ill check the loads before I head out to the airport.

I’m sitting in my Houston apartment, it’s 8:30 pm and I am exhausted but can’t wait for tomorrow to begin. Today was day one as a Continental Airlines Intern. I still can’t believe I’m here; it seems like a dream still.

The day began early with my alarm sounding at 5:15 am. I had worked out a shower schedule with my roommates so we would be out the door by 6:15. The drive to work had been given a dry run in the days before. I had come out to Houston four days earlier with my girlfriend and just explored the city. We took in an Astros baseball game (we won and I’m now a life long fan), visited the aquarium, took in some of the Houston night life and celebrated Cinco de Mayo in one of the many Mexican restaurants within Houston. Two days ago I moved in to the apartment that I share with two other Continental Interns. There are 12 Interns in all, 10 in Houston, one in Newark , and one in Cleveland .

The department I’ll be working in for the next four months is the Flight Safety Department at Continental. I am so happy that I’ve been given the opportunity to work in this department. As a safety minor within the Aeronautical Science degree program the knowledge I have acquired over the past three years will be put to good use. I will be entering data into the computer system as well as traveling to other airports to perform safety audits. These audits are to ensure that Continental ramps, gates and concourses comply with federal regulations. On top of my daily work we will be taking high altitude training, sitting in on Boeing 777 ground school classes, visiting the airport rescue and firefighting facility, traveling to Newark to visit the east coast hub, and the crown of the internship, MD-80 training. And let’s not forget about the unlimited domestic jump seating. We are encouraged to travel on weekends and see the world, from the flight deck.

For now I still have to iron my shirt for tomorrow, study some manuals, study up on the company for the safety meeting I’ll be sitting in on tomorrow and most important Ill be getting some sleep.

This semester has come and gone so quickly, I can not believe I have been here for an entire year.

Things have been really hectic here the last week of school because of finals; I had so many papers to write. Things are going good though concerning my final grades and I am satisfied with how things will turn out.

It is going to feel good to get another break from doing all of this work for a little bit, by the end of a semester you get kind of worn out in way. The only downside for me is I am going to be taking classes both the summer A and summer B sessions back home in order to graduate and get onto the FAA waiting list sooner.

After my last exam which is AT305 tomorrow at 12:30, I am officially done with the Spring ’06 semester for three weeks until mid May.

Looking back from now, so much has happened this past year. I remember not even 12 months ago I would sit by my computer researching as much as I could about Embry-Riddle’s student life and reading all the journal entries. Now, I am an experienced Riddle student who is even a journal writer — who would have imagined.

Within this year I made a lot of great new friends, joined a Fraternity, passed all my classes with good grades and so much more. I conquered all of my uncertainties and worries I had before I came down here when I was in most of your positions, future freshman.

Looking back on it though, there was no reason to feel that way because this school is great. From my classmates to the faculty and staff here, everyone is really nice and helpful. The Professors I have had this past year were all so knowledgeable, I have a lot respect for just about every single one and I am sure you will too.

To give all of you some advice for when you come here, be yourself and make as many friends as you can. Next year will be my 4th year of college and I always see the same stuff happening with new students.

When you come here it will be like nothing you have ever experienced, you will be alone and need to start over a new reputation and group of friends, no more high school statuses. So, get a good group of friends and stay out of your dorm room as much as you can the first week, unless you are with other people besides your roommates.

Go to as many of the school activities you can for orientation and even the night programs even though they are usually corny, sometimes they’re good. Be the bigger person and go up to as many new people as you can and get to know them, most of you will be new here and have a lot to talk about, so don’t be shy. Just get out there and do it even if it feels scary or weird! If you get asked to go to a Fraternity/Sorority party, you have been introduced to a great opportunity; just do not get too carried away that first night with the fun.

Letting go of home is going to be the hardest part of transitioning into your new college life, your first two weeks will be the toughest. Listen to my advice and I guarantee you will have the time of your life from the beginning of school until the end. Don’t be that kid who sits in his dorm room hiding all day and night.

Finally, sleeping in feels soooo good, but go to class every day because sleeping in or skipping class is almost addictive.

This is my last journal entry and I hope I have helped most of you get a better picture of what college life is really like here at Embry-Riddle. I can honestly say I am proud to be a student here and couldn’t ask for a better school to end up in. College is going to be one of the most fun and exciting times in your life that will definitely define your character. Do as many unique and crazy things you can here because you only live once, there are a few things I do not think I can every forget (no regrets).

If you are wondering about me, I will be senior next year and hopefully graduating next spring. After graduation I plan on taking the summer off and then starting on my Master’s degree before the FAA gives me my call. My future goal and dream is to work in a major center or major tower like the big leaguers in Newark Liberty Airport ATC Tower (EWR).

If anyone ever has any questions or concerns I might be able to help guide you through with, feel free to email me anytime at beim582@erau.edu or come up to me on campus. I wish all of you the best of luck and have a safe summer.

It’s the last journal entry already! I can’t believe it. The beginning of the school year seems like just yesterday, with moving in, orientation week, meeting everyone for the first time, NSOP for ROTC and all that. I remember before I got here, I was worried that ROTC was going to be too intense or something, primarily because I second-guess myself a lot, but I totally got into the swing of things, academically and in ROTC. Even though it seems like this year went by so quickly, I still look back and realize that I’ve changed a lot since then. I’ve learned so much, and experienced so many changes, and grown up a lot and become more responsible. I also got used to college stress, which I find to be a lot different than anything you experience at home or in high school. I wouldn’t necessarily say that anyone is worse than the other, but they are different and I think you have to learn how to handle them in different ways.

For my last two weeks at school I moved out of McKay into Doolittle with one of my friends. I just wasn’t getting along with one of my roommates and I realized my efforts to make it work were futile, so I think I made the best decision in moving. Instead of making it an issue of faults, I decided it was best for me to be the one to leave because I had people willing to take me. This also made me learn a few lessons I thought I would share because I’m sure many of you will go through the same thing. Most people are worth the effort of making friends with them, but when there are those that don’t appreciate you or don’t value everyone as a human being like they are, those people are not worth your time, effort, or worries. Also remember, you are in college, away from your parents because you are expected to act like an adult, so act like one. Be responsible for your actions and decisions. Lastly, if someone doesn’t treat you with the respect you deserve, don’t sink to their level and do the same. You will end up feeling a lot better knowing you did the right thing. Getting the last word in isn’t always the most important thing, because in the end it will be obvious who did the right thing, and that is the best part.

ROTC ended for the semester on Friday the 21st with PIR for spring. It felt good knowing I don’t have any more ROTC stuff to think about for the next couple months. I’m also looking forward to the challenges of being a 200 and doing FTP (field training preparation).

On Thursday (April 27th), I’m going to be going home for two weeks between Spring and Summer A. My flight leaves just a couple hours after my last final. As soon as I go home, I just want to lay down on the couch and not get up and just enjoy the solitude for a while. Then I’m going to go hang out with some old friends so we can catch up and maybe go to some shows in Seattle.

It’s so hard to believe that a year of college is already behind me. I just can’t get over that. With all the rough stuff that comes with the first year of college, I really appreciate this first year I had. No matter where you end up going to school, college is definitely worth going to. Well I’ve really enjoyed writing for all of you this year, and I hope everyone has a great summer, and I’ll see some of you either over the summer or next fall! Be sure to say hi to me when you see me! And of course, you can still get in touch with me anytime at kenyonj@erau.edu! Thanks so much for reading everyone!

Hey all!

Well, only a few days left for the semester, and I am so ready to be done! I have tons of projects and tests and important things coming up so I will be very busy in the next week and a half. I will be staying for the summer A session, and I will be going home at the end of June, and Kenny will be staying with me in Minnesota until after the 4th of July. Yay! I went to Port St. Lucie again with him this past weekend for Easter and I had a blast. He has seven younger cousins that I love to hang out with, and I got to meet his parents and younger brother and sister from Virginia this time, too. This was my first Easter without snow, so I really enjoyed the egg hunt outside and the pool and the nice weather.

 The weekend before was my formal for Tri-Sigma (the Buccaneer’s Ball), and Kenny’s formal for his fraternity (Sigma Alpha Epsilon), called the Lion’s Ball. We went to both in the same night, and we had lots of fun dancing and taking pictures. At the Lion’s Ball, Kenny got the True Gentleman Award and I am so proud of him! I just wish I hadn’t stepped out of the room just before it was awarded to him so I could have seen him get it!

I just got my placement letter for the RA class and I am going to be an RA in McKay next year. I was thrilled because this was my first choice, and I was very grateful because I also found out that only half of my class was hired. So, if any of you that are reading this and are going to be a freshman in McKay next year, I might be your RA! Drop me an email!

Have a great summer!
~Sara