Getting Involved

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Kealey

Hey Everyone!!

Sorry it’s been a while things have just been so crazy lately! This semester has really been picking up and I feel like time is really flying by! There are so many opportunities involved with being a part of the Women’s Ambassador Program here on campus, and I am so honored to be a part of such a wonderful group of women. We had the privilege of hosting our fellow ambassadors from the Embry- Riddle Prescott Campus! It was so wonderful meeting these girls and being able to show them our campus as well as around the Daytona Beach area!

Prescott and Daytona Beach Ambassadors at Bahama Breeze!

The ambassadors first night in Daytona was spent at Bahama Breeze, which was loads of fun! We were able to really connect with the other girls and learn about how their lives are different at Prescott!

All the Ambassadors in front of the Flight Line on the Daytona Beach Campus

The following day we were able to give the ambassadors a tour around the Embry-Riddle Campus! They enjoyed seeing all of our different colleges as well as the flight ops and simulation buildings! The next day we all traveled to Universal Studios in Orlando. Because of course, if you come all the way to central Florida you have to go to a theme park! It turned out to be an absolutely gorgeous day and I really enjoyed seeing the new Harry Potter World!

Daytona Beach Ambassadors Kalina, Kealey (also a ERAU blogger), and I on the Jurassic Park Ride (Prior to getting soaked)!

Daytona Beach Ambassadors Kalina, myself, and Lindsey (my fellow ERAU blogger) on the Jurassic Park ride!

All of the Ambassadors at Universal Studios-Orlando’s Islands of Adventure Park

After a long but very fun filled weekend, we said goodbye to the Prescott Ambassadors over lunch at Panera! Luckily thanks to the university, the Daytona Beach Ambassadors have the opportunity to travel to Prescott this April! This will be such an amazing experience to see the other campus and I think we are also taking a trip to the Grand Canyon!

Saying goodbye to the Prescott Ambassadors!

Myself and Pia the coordinator for The Women’s Ambassador Program at Universal!

Along with the Women’s Ambassador Program, I am also involved in Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority here on campus! We have just begun our recruitment process for this semester which is always very fun and very busy! I love the opportunity to get to know so many women on campus! We just had “Meet the Greeks” which is an event where all the Fraternities and Sororities put up their tents on the quad and get to know all of the students interested in joining Greek Life. It’s a great opportunity to get to know all of the organizations and see what each one has to offer.

Sigmas at Meet the Greeks!

Holding up our newly painted letters!

One of my favorite parts about greek life here at Embry-Riddle, is how well all the different fraternities and sororities get along. I think because we have a small school we are able to get along much better and it seems like everyone works together as a team to build a strong greek community!

Fellow Women’s Ambassador Dakota and I at Meet the Greeks! No matter what the letters may say we are still best friends!

The Chick Fil’ A cow decided to come say hi to myself and fellow ambassadors Ayanna and Dakota!

Lastly, In other exciting news I received my nick-name on my Tri-Sigma Jersey! This is something that your “big sister” gives you once you have been a member for a while! It’s definitely a monumental moment and I am so excited to finally have it!

So happy to get my nickname!

One of my favorite parts about school down here at Embry-Riddle is all of the amazing organizations that I am involved in. My best advice to any incoming student is to get involved! My first semester here at Riddle I was not involved in too many different things on campus, but once I joined Sigma Sigma Sigma as well as the Women’s Ambassador Program; my college experience changed for the better! I have met so many new people and made so many great friends because of these organizations. Not only is it important to get involved because of the social aspect, but also because of networking! So many of my sisters have gotten internships or jobs through other sisters. And the opportunities and exposure that I am able to get through Women’s Ambassador is unbelievable! Get involved in what you love and I promise that your college experience will become that much greater! Until next time!

-Kealey

Hello world!

Posted on February 5, 2015 by wpengine

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Taking Flight

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Billy

Has it really been two weeks already? Honestly so much has happened in this week alone that I cannot comprehend it all. In terms of highlights: I got to meet Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise, I was hired by the IT department, so I now have two campus jobs (yay?), and my new quadcopter came in the mail.

The Avion strikes again! *Angerly waves fist in the air*

Meeting Fred Haise was absolutely amazing; words cannot describe how nice and genuinely awesome he is. I was fortunate enough to meet him as well as sit-in on two of his Q&A sessions. As I sat in the audience and listened to him speak, you could feel his enthusiasm for space and aviation. He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was very honest and open about what he talked about. If any of you ever get the chance to see him, please do yourself a favor and try to. I would like to thank Dr. Kain of the Honors program here at Embry-Riddle for allowing me to meet Fred Haise and my friend Gus Galarnyk for telling me about his session with the honors students.

In addition to applying for a Resident Adviser (RA) position, I also applied to the IT department here at Embry-Riddle. I was extremely nervous because I was never interviewed for a job before and I knew that there were people who were way more qualified than me. With that said, I was amazed and excited when I learned I got the job. I start work on Thursday so hopefully I can work out my schedule because I’m terrible with time management. Hopefully I have the same amount of luck for my RA interview (Fingers crossed)!

I don’t know if I learned from the Quadcopter Incident of 2015 because almost immediately afterward, I sprang to get a new quadcopter and returning the old one. In terms of practical use aside from “it looks cool bro,” I really want to get into aerial-imaging (fancy schmancy for footage taken in the sky/air.) With photography and videography under my belt, I need something to challenge myself and since like 5 guys on my floor are RC plane hobbyists, I had no problems getting into the swing of things. One of my suite-mates recently got a new RC plane while the other, who happens to be an RC plane trainer, built one from scratch. Since we all acquired our new gear on Saturday, we all went flying and it was a fun time. RC flying is definitely a hobby I can get into, and since it’s not that big where I grew up, more bragging rights for me when I come back home.

Soccer fields are amazing great places to fly dangerous precision-control aircraft.

I can’t believe we’ve been back in school for 1 month already. What’s even more shocking is that I have friends who didn’t even go back yet! Oh well, just 3 more and I’m back in NJ. On that bombshell, I’ll see you all soon.

If hyper-linking works, he’s an outtake from our RC flying antics: Whoops

Stay Organized, Stay Positive, Stay Focused

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Lindsey

Although second semester has only just begun, I’m definitely starting to feel my course load, my two on-campus jobs, as well as being a member of five organizations on campus, start to bear down on me. Most people advise me to take a step back and prioritize what is most important and then cut back on what is not. However, when you’re passionate about everything you’re involved in, how does one cut back on involvement? The answer for me is: you don’t.

I’ve always been one to be involved in clubs, sports, and extracurriculars; even while I was in high school. Now that I have the freedom to use my time how I want to in college, I am involved even more! If you are like me, you understand that being involved and constantly having to attend meetings, social events, do homework, and even travel across the country (I’m so excited!), is just how you like to live. I’ve realized over my first semester here at ERAU that I love to be on-the-go!

This semester I am juggling my job as a Blogger, my job as a Social Media Assistant for Student Activities, being an Orientation Team Ambassador, being a Women’s Ambassador/Webmaster, as well as being an active member of NBAA, Women in Aviation, and Airport Management Club all on top of my five classes. At this point, my planner is starting to look a little crazy, but that’s just how I like it! I also have the privilege of traveling to Seattle, Washington, Savannah, Georgia, Dallas, Texas, and Murray, Kentucky this semester due to various different conferences, outreach events, and social events. You could say being on-the-go 24/7 is what keeps me on my toes!

I never would be able to manage all of it if it weren’t for these three must-have’s however, so I’ve decided to share them with you…

1. My planner: This handy ERAU Planner is what is now serving as my lifeline. If I lost it, my life would be in shambles! I write down everything in it: meetings, assignments, reminders, flights, social events, etc. You name it, it’s in my planner!

2. Sleep: I cannot stress this enough, sleep is the most important part of my daily routine. I am not one of those people who can run solely off of one hour of sleep and a 32oz Latte! I pride myself on getting at least seven hours of zzz‘s per night: it truly does make a difference in your day!

3. 9-5: I once heard from someone that in order to be able to manage all of the organizations you want to be a part of, you have to commit to your academics like they’re a job. This means working, in my case, from 8am-5pm everyday on homework, academic-related meetings, or on my jobs. Once I have finished my work for the day, then I can go out to my club meetings or go explore Florida. This is the best piece of advice I have ever received!

I know a lot of you are probably like me; working yourself until you have a mental breakdown, but that’s okay! I’m not going to say it’s easy, but it is definitely achievable if you stay organized, stay positive, and stay focused! Whose right is it to tell you that you cannot be involved in all that you want to? I say, go out there and do it!

Until next time,

Lindsey

The College Work Load

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Jack

For incoming freshman/first year students, college can sound very scary, but honestly, it really depends what one associates college with.

Before I left home, everyone told me that college will be some of the best years of my life, but all I could think about was that I would be spending hours upon hours doing homework, reading, and studying for tests, quizzes, and essays.

However, I have now realized that I was scared for no reason…yes, I actually have homework, and yes mom, if you are reading this, I do study.

For me, I have been able to accomplish almost all of my homework, studying, and writing essays between 8AM and 6PM on weekdays; this works great for me because it feels like a full time job versus school. After 6PM (the majority of the time), I have my homework and studying done for the day which allows for plenty of time to nap, read, hang out with friends, and explore Daytona Beach.

Please know that the work load depends upon your major, teachers, and the classes you take, and as the semester ends, the work load can increase a lot. However, if one keeps up with everything, the workload is manageable.

Some tips for success:

Try not to get behind, but if you do, be sure that you communicate with your professor and work hard to catch up.
Don’t procrastinate!
Try to complete homework as soon as its assigned.
Don’t start studying for a test the night before.
Lastly, don’t stress too much! Make sure that you enjoy some downtime.

Overall, I have been pretty happy with the assignments I have had to do for my classes as I actually see how I will be able to apply what I learn in a future internship and job. In high school, I frequently would ask myself “when am I actually going to use this,” but now in college, I ask this question very rarely.

My professors have done an excellent job connecting the curriculum to the real world. For example, I remember asking myself if I will ever use Calculus after college, my professor explained and demonstrated how we can and will use Calculus to solve supply/demand situations.

Meanwhile, we had to create several graphs comparing two airlines based on several different measurements (number of flights, passengers, available seat miles, profit/loss, etc.). As soon as my professor started explaining the assignment, I immediately realized that I will be able apply this skill to my internship at Airways News this summer.

I guess it’s safe to say that I look forward to attending class–even though my day starts at 8AM everyday–since I see when I’ll actually be able to apply what I learn.

Until next time,

Jack

The Second Semester Begins!

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Jack

Hello there!

It’s safe to say that my first semester at Embry-Riddle flew by as I cannot believe that it’s already the third week of the second semester!

I’m very happy to report that my first semester was a huge success on many different levels. I made a lot of new friends, interviewed for a few internships, finished the semester with terrific grades, joined two clubs on-campus (NBAA and Airport Management Club) and got very involved in the College of Business.

Winter Break

After finals, it was great to go back home to Houston, Texas for a few weeks for some R&R, to spend time with friends and family, and work a little.

At the end of December, I traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to write about and attend the AirTran Airways farewell ceremony as I work as a journalist for AirwaysNews.com and Airways Magazine. Attending the farewell celebration is one of the most unique experiences and stories that I’ve gotten to report as a journalist. It reminded me why I am so passionate about airlines, and why I hope to join the industry soon.

What fascinates me the most is how thousands of people come together at an airline to get hundreds of thousands of people from point A to point B 24/7/365. As I flew to Atlanta the morning of the final flight, I began to wonder how many passengers AirTran has carried since starting out as ValuJet in 1993. Regardless of the number, we can certainly say they brought millions together for birthdays, weddings, family vacations, business meetings, holidays, and many other occasions. Thanks to AirTran and ValuJet employees, they helped make it possible.

My Second Semester Begins

Now, I’m in the middle of the third week of the Spring Semester, and I can already tell that it will be another great semester!

However, I do have a full load between Airline Management, Humanities: Introduction to Literature, Macroeconomics, Quantitative Methods II, Advanced Computer Based Systems, a part-time job in the College of Business, being a member of the College of Business Student Advisory Board, and exploring Daytona Beach as well as the Sunshine State.

Stay tuned as the adventure continues!

The Future is Very Bright

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Billy

With Winter Break behind us all, it’s time for us to continue what we started last semester. I was pleased, well moderately satisfied, with where I stood last semester but there was definitely room for improvement. This semester I’m attempting to push myself harder and, thanks to my schedule, I might make my goal a reality.

With only 4 classes this semester, I have plenty of time for school and the clubs I’m involved in. It’s nice not feeling constrained by your course load, but also it feels good to have something to do. Whether it’s doing my EGR120 homework (Graphical Communications) or a photography assignment for the Avion, I’m always doing something.

Aside from school and clubs, I’m starting to get back into photography and, more recently, RC planes. I just got a mini-quadcopter and I love it! Of course that was until after 2 minutes of me flying it for the first time, I got it stuck in a palm tree. With the enlisted help of 4-5 of my hall-mates, and the loss of my two flip flops, we got it back and it still works! This basically means I need to practice in the simulator more and/or not fly by trees.

Since it’s only been 3 weeks into the semester, nothing much really has happened. I’m sure things will change in the next couple of days. So, until then, “Till all are one!”

I also would like to take the time to thank my friend Rachel Weeks for proof reading my posts since I have the grammar mechanics of a 5-year-old.

ERAU Women’s Ambassador

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Lindsey

Some of you may be wondering, why did I choose Riddle? Well, I’ll tell you about one reason why I did. Everyone wants to feel welcomed and at home when they choose the university they will be attending; and this is exactly what Embry-Riddle made me feel. Before I even enrolled at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, I was connecting with a girl who already attended the university through a program called the Women’s Ambassador Program. During the spring of my senior year of high school and continuing on into the summer, I was receiving calls from one of the Women’s Ambassadors. We would talk about what I planned on majoring in, what campus life was like, and the questions I had about Riddle. By talking to this girl, whom I had never met before, but who just began to call me, I felt welcomed. I knew that Embry-Riddle cared if I attended. I wasn’t just another name on a list of applicants, but I was a person who mattered to them.

Once I committed to attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for the Fall 2014 Semester, I knew that I wanted to join the Women’s Ambassador Program. I wanted to be able to welcome other girls on campus, just like my ambassador had, and to encourage girls to pursue education in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields. I applied as soon as the applications came out in the fall, and by early January 2015 I found out I was going to be an Ambassador!

Prescott and Daytona Beach Ambassadors at Bahama Breeze

Now that it is January 20, 2015, I have been an Ambassador for about two weeks, and I have already experienced so many amazing things! Last weekend the Ambassadors from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott, Arizona campus came to visit. We started off the getting-to-know-each other process with a dinner at Bahama Breeze on Thursday. It was interesting to hear all about the Arizona campus and the work that the Prescott Ambassadors were doing there.

On Friday, we set out to local schools to do outreach with their students. We talked about what STEM education has to offer and did an activity with the kids which included making a marshmallow-slinging catapult out of a clothes hangar, spoon, and rubber bands. It was a lot of fun to get to talk to children from around the area about what they want to do in the future and why they love STEM.

Kalina and I with our winning catapult team!

The rest of the weekend was filled with fun activities. Saturday morning we gave a tour of our campus to the Prescott Ambassadors. Next, we went to Universal Studios-Orlando with the Prescott Ambassadors on Sunday and spent the whole day riding roller coasters, getting to know each other, and getting absolutely soaked on the Jurassic Park Ride!

All the Ambassadors in front of the Flight Line on the Daytona Beach Campus

All of the Ambassadors at Universal Studios-Orlando’s Islands of Adventure Park

Daytona Beach Ambassadors Kalina, Kealey (also an ERAU blogger), and I on the Jurassic Park Ride (prior to getting soaked)!

All in all, it was awesome to get to know not only the Prescott Ambassadors, but also my fellow Daytona Beach Ambassadors. In April, the Daytona Beach Women’s Ambassadors will be traveling to the Prescott, AZ campus to do outreach! I can’t wait to experience all the Prescott Campus has to offer! In the meantime, I will be able to make my first phone calls to girls who have applied to ERAU starting next week. I can’t wait to be on the other end of the phone: getting to know the Freshman Girls of the Class of 2019 and building friendships with them!

Until next time,

Lindsey

New Semester, Fresh Start!

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Kealey

My favorite part about starting a new semester is the chance to have a clean slate and a fresh start! There are so many new and exciting things to look forward to this semester and I can’t wait to share all my experiences with you!

Home for the holidays:

Thanksgiving is always a relaxing break right before the last week of school. I was lucky enough to spend it with my best friend and her family up in Flagler Beach. The beauty of being in college is that even if you don’t go home for Thanksgiving there’s always a place to go! Her family was so welcoming and it’s always nice to feel the warmth of being home even when you are hundreds of miles away. Something I have also learned while being in college is to never turn down a home cooked meal, they are few and hard to come by!

: Thanksgiving Festivities!

For Christmas break, I wrapped things up down here in Florida and I headed up to the cold and snowy New Hampshire! There’s nothing like leaving 80 degree weather and landing in a winter wonderland! One of my first stops when I landed in Boston was to Bob Lobster; by far the best lobstah and chowdah in New England!

Bob Lobsters Famous Lobster Rolls and Clam Chowder, Newburyport Massachusetts

My favorite part about being home for break is the chance to take a step back from the stress of school and finally get to relax. I was able to catch up with many of my old friends that I haven’t seen in years! On Christmas day my mom and I took a drive up the coast and went to watch the sunset on the beach. Although it was freezing, the view was absolutely breathtaking! I took my new puppy Siena (named after Siena Italy where I studied abroad) to the beach and she was running around in sand and it was by far the cutest thing ever!

My new puppy Siena!

For New Years Eve my best friend from high school and I went to the First Night Celebrations in Portsmouth, New Hampshire! The night was filled with people dancing in the streets, fireworks, and lots of great food!

New Years Eve

New Years Day is probably one of my most favorite days of the year. I love having the opportunity to close the chapter on a year and start a new one off fresh. Everyone makes mistakes in life and its our responsibility to learn from them and keep moving forward. For me this past year was definitely one of mistakes, but it was also one filled with lots of opportunities to learn. Here’s some things that I learned this past year and some advice I have for starting off this new semester:

1. Stay Organized: One of my main goals this semester is to stay organized and on top of all my work. I plan on doing this by writing down all my homework, upcoming tests, club meetings, ect. in my calendar so that I can stay on top of everything that I need to get done.

2. Prioritize: We only have so many hours in a day; therefore it is so important that you rank things in order of importance to insure that everything gets done on time.

3. Get Enough Sleep: This is one of the most important factors in order to succeed in college. I definitely did not get enough of this last year and I know that it negatively affected my ability to stay alert during lectures.

4. Stay Healthy: Eating well and staying active will give you more energy throughout the day, and will also allow you to focus better in class as well as increasing your ability to sleep better.

5. Be Happy: My number one goal this semester is to be happy. Sometimes with the stress of classes and work its hard to find time to be happy. My goal is to try to find something everyday that makes me happy, whether its going out with friends, going for a run, or even just playing with my puppy! This year is a new start and its time to fill the days with happiness and positivity!

Leaving home after break was definitely sad but it was exciting to head back to the sunny blue skies and warm weather! This semester I am finally getting into my upper level meteorology classes which I am really looking forward to. My sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma also has recruitment coming up which will give me the opportunity to meet lots of new girls around campus! I will keep you updated on all my new classes, Sigma Sigma Sigma, The Women’s Ambassador Program, and all the interesting things around campus!

For now I will leave you with a picture of my puppy and I on our last day in New Hampshire playing in the snow!

Happy New Year and until next time!

-Kealey

R&R

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Lindsey

By the time finals week rolled around here at ERAU, the library became completely packed, Starbucks was busy at all hours of the day (and night), and all of us students were eagerly packing our bags for our journeys home for the holidays. After all of the stress of finals week, our Fall 2014 Semester was finally complete and we were free to relax for a few weeks. I spent my break at my home in Lake Tapps, WA with my family and friends. Although it was filled with rest and relaxation, I also kept a somewhat busy schedule…

Before I left Florida, it only felt fitting to go to Walt Disney World one last time. I went with my boyfriend and we enjoyed looking at all of the spectacular holiday decorations Disney puts up. We also took time to ride a few rides (although it was very busy), visit Minnie and Mickey, watch the Electrical Parade, and end our night with the fireworks show.

Once I finally got back to the Evergreen State, I was greeted with cool, crisp air the minute I walked out of the airport. As I got used to the cold over the next week, I had the chance to go to my first NBA game, which was the Portland Trail Blazers versus the San Antonio Spurs at the Moda Center in Portland, OR. It was a really cool experience getting to actually go to a game. I also went to The Nutcracker Ballet in Seattle, as well as a Michael W. Smith Christmas Concert with my family. My friends and I spent one night driving around Seattle to find the best Christmas light decorations around. We definitely found some over-the-top decorations.

Our view at the NBA game.

The curtain at The Nutcracker.

The week before Christmas was spent baking cookies, wrapping presents, having the annual gingerbread house competition, and watching Christmas movies with my family. It really is the best time of the year!

David and I’s entry in the Gingerbread House Competition. We definitely won!

Although we did not have a White Christmas at my house like I was hoping for, we did manage to get some snow in the Cascade Mountain Range with just enough time left for me to go skiing before I departed for the Sunshine State once again.

My dad, younger sister, boyfriend, and two other friends all went up to Crystal Mountain Ski Resort one day, and we had an amazing time. The mountain had just got over 20 inches of snow that weekend, so the snow conditions were wonderful! What wasn’t so wonderful was the weather… After a few runs on the small hill, we decided to head up the chairlift to the Summit. That day it was 7 degrees and very windy, however we did manage to make it a great day full of skiing.

David, myself, and Brian waiting to ride the Gondola to the Summit at Crystal Mountain.

The drive to Crystal Mountain.

All in all, I would call my break a success. It was full of rest and relaxation, family time, and adventures. Now that I am back at ERAU, I do miss the feeling of being stress-free and spending time with my family and friends, but I am also ready to see what this semester has in store for me!

Until next time,

Lindsey

My Life @ Riddle

Daytona Beach Edition

Getting Involved

Hello world!

Taking Flight

The College Work Load

The Second Semester Begins!

The Future is Very Bright

ERAU Women’s Ambassador

New Semester, Fresh Start!

R&R