Say Hello to Summer

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Kealey

It’s summer time and the living is easy!

The end of the semester and the start of summer definitely felt like a whirlwind! The last few days of the spring semester flew by and before I knew it I was sitting in my first classes of the Summer A semester!

Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In & Expo, Lakeland, Florida:

This was my first year attending the Sun’ n Fun airshow in Lakeland, Florida and boy was it fun! A large group of my friends and I made the drive down and spent the day surrounded by hundreds of different types of aircraft. My favorite planes to see were definitely the different types of war aircraft that they had displayed. I am a pretty big history buff, so these types of things fascinate me! We also spent time looking and talking to all the different vendors. I learned a lot about different aviation companies and we also sat in on an presentation about an aircraft accident given by AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association). My favorite part of the day was definitely watching the Thunderbirds fly in. They were not performing that day but gave us a mini show as they arrived in Lakeland which was exhilarating. I can remember as a little girl going to different airshows on the Navy bases that we were stationed at and nothing beats the sounds of the jets flying by. Now, every time I hear those noises I get chills and it takes me back to some wonderful memories.

The group of us at Sun ‘n Fun!

Loved learning all about the war planes

Great American Mud Race

One of the best things I have done so far this summer was complete the Great American Mud Race!! This was a mud filled run full of obstacles that were certainly challenging. One of my sorority sisters and I decided to take on the challenge and I must say, I don’t think I have ever been so muddy in my life. This was a great start to summer and I would definitely recommend this type of race for anyone up for getting a little dirty! I have set a goal for myself to complete a racing series throughout the summer and the fall and I thought this would be a fun way to kick off my training! My plan is to run a 10k in June, a 15k in September, and lastly a Half Marathon in mid October!

Crawling in the mud under barbed wire!

Excited as we are about to finish one of the last obstacles

Why not live life a little muddy?

Graduation

To truly wrap up the Spring Semester, It was time for graduation! I had lots of friends graduating this semester so it was lots of fun to go support and congratulate all of them! It’s crazy to think that in just a year or so this will be me! College has really flown by and it feels like so long ago that I was attending my own high school graduation. College has been some of the best years of my life so far; the independence that I have gained has been truly amazing. I have learned so much about myself and definitely pushed myself harder than I ever thought possible.

Sigmas at Graduation!

I feel like I just finished the Spring semester and summer is already in full swing! Check out my next blog post all about the DOW (Doppler on Wheels) field experiment that I will be participating in chasing storms in Florida!

Until Next Time!

-Kealey

Home At Last (or am I?)

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Lindsey

It is crazy to me that I am sitting in my house in Washington, writing a blog post right now. Where did freshman year go?! Although it is nice to be back in Washington, it feels like something is missing. I’ve realized that something is Florida.

What people don’t tell you about attending college out-of-state is that you will no longer have just one place to call home. Home for me now means the house I grew up in in Lake Tapps, Washington, as well as my cozy room in McKay Hall back in Daytona Beach, Florida. My life for the next three years consists of moving back and forth from home to home. I now know that no matter which home I am in, I will never feel “at home” again. Each place holds a part of me that the other one cannot. Now, I’m beginning to realize that it’s okay. Lake Tapps feels like home because of my family, the lake, the mountains, refreshing air, and the Evergreen trees. Daytona Beach feels like home because of school, friends, the warmth, and the beach. Each location is unique in its own way and each holds special memories.

The view of Mt. Rainier over (empty) Lake Tapps

Sunset over Daytona International Speedway

It is so refreshing to be able to switch from location to location and still feel comfortable. I feel so blessed to attend a school which became my second home. The people I met and the experiences I had, at ERAU during my first year, were amazing. I never would have imagined that I would be missing school after only a week of summer vacation! However, somehow I am.

For now, I will continue to look for a summer job, pray for some warm weather in Washington, and enjoy being in the presence of my family. I wish all of you a wonderful summer and I will keep you updated on my summer adventures to come!

Until next time,

Lindsey

Adventure is out there!

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Kealey

“By replacing fear of the unknown with curiosity, we open ourselves up to an infinite stream of possibility.”

I know it has been a while since I have been able to blog; but boy have things been busy as the school year comes to a close. Being involved in so many different organizations on campus has opened the doors to so many new and exciting opportunities and adventures and definitely kept me busy!

Women’s Ambassador Program:

The Women’s Ambassadors have had quite the busy semester! We have been calling prospective female students aiding them in their transition into college life. We had the opportunity to meet many of these students during preview day, where Embry-Riddle had record breaking number of incoming students! I was finally able to meet face-to-face some of the girls that I have been reaching out to all semester, and I am looking forward to meeting the remainder of my students in the Fall!

The ambassadors were able to attend the Celebrating Women in Aviation dinner this spring which was tons of fun. It’s a fun dinner with wonderful guest speakers, great food, and a chance to see our fellow female peers and faculty and staff members.

11026295_893326760719261_7490718676476208357_n

Women’s Ambassador Program at the Women’s Dinner Spring 2015

10450877_10153055458069123_1007037305210068639_n

Enjoying the Women’s Dinner with many of my sorority sisters

One of my biggest adventures of the semester was Women’s Ambassador Trip to Prescott Arizona! We were given this amazing opportunity my Mrs. Johnson and the admissions department to travel to Prescott and familiarize ourselves with the second Embry-Riddle campus. Arizona is certainly a different type of atmosphere, the air is much thinner and the heat is much dryer. The campus sits up on a hill and looks out over the Prescott terrain which was absolutely gorgeous.

1555467_10205602283752793_420484892423805025_n

Representing both Sigma Sigma Sigma as well as Alpha Xi Delta, sometimes best friends are not always sisters!

WAP Ambassadors on our way to Prescott

One of our days in Arizona we were able to travel to the Grand Canyon; something I have been waiting for years to cross off of by bucket list. Driving up and seeing the Canyon for the first time was absolutely breathtaking. It honestly looks like a mural, I almost could not even believe my eyes!!

11041674_10205612795735586_3474011452307252173_n

We came , We saw, We conquered

11063733_10203799514887598_298811741214180327_n

Both ERAU Daytona and Prescott Ambassadors at the Grand Canyon

My experiences in Arizona were amazing, and I am so grateful that as ambassadors we were given the opportunity to travel to new and exciting places. The ERAU Prescott Campus is beautiful and although it is very different than the campus here in Daytona, it still had a familiar feeling of home!

Sigma Sigma Sigma

Things were not only busy between school and the Women’s Ambassador Program, but also extremely busy with Sigma Sigma Sigma! First we celebrated our Spring Formal! The theme was Casino Royale and I had a wonderful time dressing up, eating great food, and having an amazing time with all of my sisters and our wonderful dates!

11018300_10205407987655512_9110546959126190300_n

My date Kyle and I before formal!

10511138_10205409230606585_5642772742422116419_n

My sisters Alissa, Kalina, and I before Tri Sigma Formal

One of my most favorite events of the spring semester is GREEK WEEK!!
This is a super jam packed week full of fun competitions between all the different Greek organizations. All of the Sororities will compete against each other as well as the different Fraternities. There are different competitions each day like, jousting, tug of war, boat races, cook offs and more!!

Sigma was in first place the entire week and we finished with the highest score among both sororities and fraternities! GREEK WEEK CHAMPIONS!! Delta Chi also did an amazing job and took home First Place for the gentleman!

11133836_10205594294233060_6044108964468669789_n

The sisters of Sigma Sigma Sigma during Greek Week!!

We also just initiated five new sisters into our chapter this semester including my little Kalina! The new member process is always an amazing experience and it feels so good to finally call these women my sisters!

13080_10205616622151244_947881945871919235_n

First Class Family after Initiation!! Congrats Kalina

Lastly, this past weekend we celebrated our Founders Day. We all gathered for brunch and celebrated 117 amazing years of sisterhood. I am so proud and happy to be a part of Sigma Sigma Sigma, these women have pushed me to become a stronger and better person and they constantly help me strive for excellence. I have been given so many more opportunities because of them and they have truly made my experience here at ERAU the best it could be.

10270514_10152726746986957_6565605932852162022_n

Celebrating Founders Day!

I almost can’t believe that this semester is coming to a close, it has been such a whirlwind but I can honestly say it was my best semester so far at ERAU. I am excited to close the chapter on Spring 2015, and jump right into Summer! I will be staying down here this summer to work, take classes, and begin flying again. I am taking a really cool “Doppler on Wheels” course, which will involve storm chasing and collecting data from the crazy Florida Thunderstorms!! I am also moving in a new apartment with two of my fellow Women’s Ambassadors!!

I’ll be back in a couple weeks to let you know how everything is going and how the summer has kicked off! Until then always remember that Adventure Is Out There!

Goodbye, Freshman Year

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Lindsey

Classes are winding down, boxes are being packed, the temperature is heating up, and thunderstorms are becoming an everyday occurrence. You know what that means, spring semester is coming to a close! Between studying for finals and packing up all of my belongings, I’m taking time to reflect on my first year of college.

During my first week here in Daytona Beach, I had no idea what to expect once classes started at ERAU. Would I have homework everyday, will the professors know my name, where can I eat after class, and more, were all questions I asked myself. I am the oldest child in my family, so I did not have any stories about college from older siblings to rely on. I was going into my first day of classes with a completely blank slate.

Now, after a full year of classes at ERAU, I can say that college is not what I expected it to be during that first week. However, that is a good thing. I learned that in college…

1. You have the freedom to do what you want to do, however the choices you make about how you spend your time will catch up with you. Whether the choices be good or bad, you decide.

2. Everyone is here to succeed. Back in high school, there were people who just went to class because they had to. In college, you go to class because you genuinely want to learn and succeed in your field. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be here.

3. There are so many resources to help you. Going in to my first day of class, I thought I was alone. I did not think anyone cared if I succeeded or not. Now I know I was completely wrong. ERAU provides amazing resources to help you with internships, tutoring, medical needs, and anything else you could possibly think of. I never feel like I am alone because now I know I have a huge web of resources who will be there for me if I ever need anything.

After looking back on my freshman year, I’ve realized that I made some mistakes, but I also grew tremendously. I’ve grown academically because of classes which have pushed me to think outside of the box. I’ve grown socially because of clubs and organizations that challenge me to get out of my comfort zone, volunteer, and be a part of something bigger. I’ve grown emotionally because I’ve lived 3,000+ miles away from everything I ever knew before. Lastly, I’ve grown mentally because I am continuously surrounded by people who think different than I do, who may live on the other side of the world from me, and who are pursuing amazing careers in a different field than I am. All of the experiences I have had in my first year of college have been an integral part in my learning process. It’s not just the classes you attend which prepare you for life after college, but also the experiences you have along the way.

As a freshman in my last week of classes, I have some advice for incoming freshmen in the Fall 2015 semester…

College will be the most rewarding time of your life, if you let it challenge you. Go into your freshman year with an open mind about everything, because I promise you, college is not what you expect it to be. Meet new people, travel around the area, study hard, join clubs, get a job, and have fun! Don’t constrain yourself by letting your preconceptions conceal the endless opportunities available right outside of your comfort zone.

“By letting go of your fears and opening your wings, you can soar to new heights”

Although this is my last blog entry of the semester, keep checking back during the summer! I will be writing about my experiences, wherever life takes me.

Until next time,

Lindsey

Music and Rockets: The Unlikely Encounters of the Third Kind

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Billy

With the end of the semester nearly 2 weeks away, things are really starting to pick up across campus. From the events and activities on campus to my classes and projects that need to get done, there’s so much to do and so little time.

Let’s start with the Touch ‘N’ Go Big Show. Every year (or is it bi-annually?) Embry-Riddle’s entertainment board, Touch-N-Go, has a concert on campus and this year they managed to book the Plain White T’s and Smash Mouth. While I never really had the opportunity to listen to their music as a kid growing up, I definitely knew who they were and was really excited when I found out they were coming to Riddle. Because I volunteered to cover the event for The Avion, I got the opportunity to meet both bands and interview them along with two of my friends from the newspaper. With heavy rain storms predicted, Mother Nature did not disappoint. But, despite the hour-long delay and heavy rain, the concert was absolutely amazing, until the generators that ran all of the equipment on stage started cutting out during the Plain White T’s’ performance. After the massive fireworks display and the bassist playing “The Star Spangled Banner,” with vocals provided by the crowd, the night came to an end and the show was over.

Flash forward two days later and I found myself biking to the Student Center (UC) at 6AM Monday morning to cover SpaceX’s rocket launch at Cape Canaveral. This was my first rocket launch ever so to say that I was excited would be an understatement. Again, thanks to the power of college journalism, I was lucky enough to get media credentials through The Avion. Thanks to the media credentials I received, I got to actually go to the launch pad and saw the Falcon 9! It was truly awe-inspiring to actually be at the Kennedy Space Center because it’s like you’re standing in a time-capsule: everything looks like it did back in the 1960s! Even the buses we rode on were the old iconic flat-faced white buses that were common during the 60s. Unfortunately the launch was scrubbed T-minus 3 minutes until launch which meant I had to come back the next day. After emailing my teachers and getting their approvals, I was good to go. All in all, after seeing the rocket launch and meeting all of the people I met, including a student from Embry-Riddle’s Prescott campus, it made me realize how lucky I was.

So, year 1 of college complete. I probably look like an idiot sitting in the library looking bewildered but wow. I can’t believe 7 months of college flew by that quickly. I’m really excited for Fall 2015 and what else is in store for me at Riddle. Unless I’m told to put out another update before I leave on the 30th, enjoy the summer, do adventurous things, and remember to be curious.

Daytona Beach Women’s Ambassadors Take on Arizona

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Lindsey

Last weekend I had the privilege of going on my last trip of the semester! Myself, and the other Women’s Ambassadors traveled to Prescott (Pres-kit), Arizona to visit the ERAU Prescott Women’s Ambassadors. We met the Prescott Ambassadors back in January, when they came to Daytona Beach, so it was nice to see them again!

We left on a Thursday and traveled all night to Phoenix, Arizona, where we stayed that night. The next day we began our two hour drive to Prescott. Prescott is north of Phoenix, up in the mountains. While the temperature was in the 90’s in
Phoenix, just 5,000 ft above in Prescott, it was a mild 60 degrees all weekend. The drive to Prescott was very interesting. We saw a lot of cacti, rolling hills, and forests. It reminded me of eastern Washington.

On the road to Prescott!

Daytona Beach Women’s Ambassadors

Overlook on the side of the road

Some of the Ambassadors at the rest stop on the way to Prescott

A cactus I found at the rest stop!

Once we got to Prescott, we met with the Ambassadors and had lunch with the Chancellor of ERAU Prescott. The lunch was held in a house that overlooks the ERAU campus. It was a beautiful view for lunch, and it was an amazing experience to meet the Chancellor and Dean of Students from Prescott. After lunch we took a tour of the campus. It was cool to see the other ERAU campus and compare and contrast the two. Their campus is surrounded by beautiful terrain and has a great atmosphere.

That night we held a Glow Party for the local Girl Scouts. The party was held at the ERAU gym, and was a lot of fun. We made glow crafts, played games, and ate pizza with the Girl Scouts. They really enjoyed the event, and so did we!

After a long day on Friday, we woke up early Saturday morning and drove to the Grand Canyon! I was so excited because visiting the Grand Canyon was on my bucket list, so I got to check it off, finally! It was about a two hour drive north of Prescott, and once again, it was beautiful. We drove on Route 66 and traveled through Williams, Arizona, which reminded me of the movie “Cars”. It was a town that looked just like the one in the movie.

Route 66 Diner in the “Cars town”

We finally made it to the Grand Canyon and once I saw it, I was speechless. I had seen it before in pictures, but pictures do not do it justice. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. We took so many pictures (with the selfie stick, of course), that we practically had to be dragged away to go to lunch. We ate lunch in a restaurant on site, and then we hiked down a trail. The trail wasn’t very steep and it was a quick trip down and back up again. I was sad to leave the Grand Canyon, and now I definitely want to make a trip back someday.

Entrance to Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon!

Sitting on the edge of the Grand Canyon

Dakota, myself, Kealey, and Kalina

Daytona and Prescott Ambassadors at the Grand Canyon

Sunday was the last day we were in Prescott. It was also Easter! We had lunch with the Prescott Ambassadors at a Mexican restaurant, and then did a scavenger hunt around the ERAU campus and downtown Prescott. We got to explore the downtown area, which was very historic. Many of the buildings had been there since the Prescott Territory. Once the scavenger hunt was over, we drove back to Phoenix to the airport. Since it was Easter, it’s only right to have an Easter dinner! However, ours was Wendy’s! Our flight took all night, so we arrived back in Daytona at 11AM the next day! The time change and long night of travel definitely took a toll on all of us.

It was an amazing, yet short trip to the other side of the country! I will never forget that Easter weekend. I’m so glad I got to experience it with some of my best friends. I can’t wait to share many more trips with them in the future!

Until next time,

Lindsey

We have how much time left?

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Billy

In terms of time, this might be the 2nd to last post I make for this semester which is crazy. I can’t believe the semester went by so quickly.

It was a really foggy night when I got back from NJ.

Good vibes all around when flying.

Spring break was lovely and, even though I miss it, I know that in three weeks time it’ll be summer vacation, so I can’t complain. It’s nice that we get like 3-4 months off because I could really use that time to get caught up in my hobbies and school work, not to mention going back to interning in New York City.

I’m very excited for the Touch ‘N’ Go “Big Show” this Saturday! I hope that I can get credentials for the event just like last year with Gabriel Iglesias as it would be a nice way to end my Saturday work day. I’m also working on getting credentials for a rocket launch next week; hopefully the date stops moving around because it’s really hard to plan out your itinerary when the dates keep getting scrubbed.

At this point of the semester I’m starting to really focus on my school work and the results have been very promising! CAD class is wonderful, though we’re diving into tolerances which is starting to mess with my head. Psychology gets very interesting with each lecture. Hopefully I can find a similar class to fill my high-level social sciences (crosses fingers.)

Aside from all the other usual stuff that goes on, I’m still writing letters and postcards to my friends and keeping in touch with my family, and writing to people has so much more meaning and worth than just sending a text message. I dare you to try it.

So jealous that the math teachers have this view of campus.

Nothing makes your better than getting a letter.

Unfortunately the past two weeks have been somewhat of an “off-week:” no real action going on, but that will change when the next post rolls around. So, until then, cheers!

Spring Break Recap

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Lindsey

Spring Break has come and gone and everyone is back in class, yet I still want to share my Spring Break recap with you.

Most people went back home for Spring Break, but I stayed in Florida and went to Fort Myers. I had the privilege of staying with my boyfriend’s family at their house, so it was much more convenient (and fun) than going back to Washington would have been!

The trip was full of relaxation, sightseeing, and good food. Because Fort Myers is on the Gulf of Mexico and is on the west coast of Florida, it is home to some of the most spectacular sunsets in Florida. Of course, watching a sunset was on my bucket list for the trip, and we watched it almost every night! We also went fishing in the pond behind the house every morning and evening. We caught all kinds of different fish and even saw turtles and an alligator!

Sunset over Fort Myers Beach

Fort Myers is home to Spring Training every year for the Red Sox and the Twins. Everyday we drove by both of their ballparks, which were both surprisingly large. Traffic was always very busy during the afternoons because of the ball games and there were fans everywhere.

The second night we were there, we found a hidden beach which was perfect for watching the sunset. We continued to go back there almost every evening to watch! It is called Bunche Beach and it is located in between Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island. The sand bar was huge, so you could walk really far out into the water. The sun set through the Sanibel/Captiva bridge every night and it was amazing to watch, even after the first night.

Just before sunset on Bunche Beach

One day, we took a trip to Sanibel and Captiva. They are both islands just off the coast of Fort Myers Beach. Sanibel Island is known for its seashells and white sand. We spent a few hours there on the beach hunting for shells, and afterwards, drove around the island and looked at all of the beach shops. It really felt like I was living “the island life”! That night, we went to a restaurant called Parrot Key. It is a very popular restaurant on the Fort Myers Marina. Their specialty is seafood, and I had the most amazing fish tacos! They also are famous for their dessert by the name of “Pelican Poop”. It is comprised of brownies, ice cream, coconut, and pineapple. I’m craving it right now just thinking about it!

Outside of Parrot Key

Pelican Poop

Another day, we went to Lover’s Key State Park. It is located just south of Fort Myers and is a lot less busy, as well. We took a tram from the front of the park, through the mangroves, to the beach. The beach was covered with pure white sand and the water was pure blue. Lover’s Key felt like a private beach compared to Fort Myers Beach.

White sandy beach at Lover’s Key

Sightseeing is one of my favorite things to do, and since I was in a city I had never been to before, I wanted to do a lot of sightseeing! Since Naples is so close to Fort Myers, it was a must-do on the trip. Naples is a very wealthy city which is comprised of million-dollar beach homes and fancy stores. We just drove through the neighborhoods (that weren’t gated!) and looked at the homes in the area. They were incredible! There were also several huge yachts, fancy cars, and beautiful yards. Another night, we went driving around Fort Myers and found the Edison and Ford House. The house was huge and the property was beautiful. Apparently, it is where both Thomas Edison and Henry Ford lived during the cold northern winters.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was the day we spent in Everglades City. It has always been my dream to go on an airboat in the Everglades, and it finally came true! I am still so excited about it! The airboat tour took us through the swamps around Everglades City. It felt like we were in a corn maze, only it was mangroves. I have no idea how the tour guide could find his way out of the mangroves! I though we were just going in circles the whole time. We also saw two gators, and I got to hold a baby one!

Through the mangroves we go!

Riding on the airboat

To end the trip, we went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse and played mini-golf! Mini golf is always a tradition on any vacation. We also made a stop at the Love Boat Ice Cream Shop. It was the cutest old ice cream shop, and all of their ice cream was homemade. The line was out the door when we got there, and people continued to come for the rest of the evening.

Outside the Love Boat

Spring Break came at the perfect time. It was very nice to relax, have home-cooked meals, and explore South Florida. I am so grateful for my wonderful Spring Break experience and I am looking forward to exploring more of what Florida has to offer sometime soon!

Until next time,

Lindsey

Snow? During Spring Break?

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Billy

Wow, here I am back in NJ, and it’s snowing on the First Day of Spring. None of it is sticking however, but it’s nice to see snow falling after spending so much time in Florida.

Someone please tell me that isn’t jet fuel being dumped out of my plane before landing…

Surprisingly this is the 2nd time I’ve flown out of Daytona Beach Int.

Unfortunately, my break hasn’t been all that eventful thanks to Mother Nature’s winter-weather-fury. I manage to visit my friend who goes to school at the University of Delaware, got to go back to my high school and visit my friends in the drama department, had dinner at my friends’ house, and spent some quality time with my family; what more could you ask for?

I found the University of Delaware’s equivalent of the COAS.

I got a nice chunk of my homework done, but there’s still more to accomplish so hopefully I don’t get sidetracked. Speaking of sidetracked, the snow is actually sticking! All the lawns on my street are turning white!

I’m glad we had a week off for Spring Break (technically 10 days for me but I digress.) I definitely needed the break to take some time to think about what I need to accomplish when I get back to Riddle. Not only that, it was nice to see my friends rooting for me because we all need a little motivation in life.

With that said, I think I’m ready to come back to school. I can’t wait to get back into the swing of things. I definitely need nicer weather to get more practice with my quadcopter so I’m excited. So, on that bombshell, I’ll see you all soon!

12:41 “Eh, nothing’s gonna happen.”

1:14 “NO WAY.”

Go Girls!

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Lindsey

Last weekend I had the privilege of traveling to Dallas, Texas for the Women in Aviation, International (WAI) Conference. Every year the conference brings together almost 5,000 aviation professionals from all over the world. The purpose of the conference is to promote women in the aviation field. I have never seen so many women pilots in my life. It was awesome!! The conference consists of an exhibit hall (where all of the companies get their own booth), opening receptions each morning with keynote speakers, education sessions with speakers, interviews, and the closing banquet on the last night. Besides bringing professionals, the conference also attracts many students from the WAI Chapters all over the world.

The journey to get to Dallas began at 3AM on Thursday morning. The ERAU WAI Chapter got together and drove to Orlando (MCO) to catch our 6AM flight to Atlanta. Our flight ended up having electrical problems, so we had to wait inside the plane for 40 minutes while it was being fixed. This put us an hour behind schedule and on track to miss our next flight in Atlanta. Luckily, due to a lot of snow on the taxiways and ramps in Dallas, our flight from Atlanta to Dallas was also delayed by an hour! Miraculously, we made it to Dallas. Once we got there we went straight to our hotel, which was HUGE! I guess it really is true; everything’s bigger in Texas.

It’s a good thing the hotel was massive because the conference was huge, too! I didn’t realize how many people attend the WAI Conference every year. It really was a great opportunity to network with some very experienced aviation professionals.

Each day I attended the opening reception, the exhibit halls, and a few education sessions. The opening reception was filled with women and it was a wonderful chance to go sit with someone new and connect with them. Every woman I met was very willing to share her story and her love of aviation. The exhibit hall was very intimidating at first. It was comprised of hundreds of booths, all with very powerful companies in the aviation industry. Once I got used to it, I talked with many companies and made some great connections. Lastly, each day I would attend at least one education session. These were smaller lectures about a specific topic. Some of the ones I attended were about the Women of The Boeing Company, how to find business fraud, and an education session about 9/11 from the experience of a fighter pilot. Overall, the business side of the conference was amazing. I met so many interesting women who were eager to talk to me as a student. I am definitely planning on attending next year in Nashville, Tennessee!

Myself and one of the Tri Sigma Eta Tau alumna in the hotel!

Me at the ERAU booth in the Exhibit Hall

ERAU Alum whom I really connected with

Part of the ERAU WAI Chapter at the closing banquet

Crystal and I before the closing banquet

ERAU Daytona Beach and Prescott Chapters before the closing banquet

Kim, myself, Crystal, Lillian, and Kim before the closing banquet

Now for the exploration side of the conference trip! Of course, since I was in Dallas, a city which I had never been to before, I wanted to go explore the town. We found the best burger place in Dallas, Rodeo Goat, and realized it was just a few minutes walk from our hotel. One afternoon we went and had lunch and it was awesome! I believe in never eating somewhere while you’re on vacation that you could eat at while you’re at home, so Rodeo Goat definitely fit my mantra.

One night, the entire ERAU WAI Chapter went out to eat at Medieval Times. If you are not aware, Medieval Times is a dinner show where you eat everything with your hands while watching knights on horseback dual for the princess. The dinner experience is like no other. We cheered on our blue knight as we ate the dragon scales (potato skins), baby dragon (chicken), and drank dragons blood (tomato soup).

Myself, Cevera, and Crystal at Medieval Times

Jincy, Myself, Crystal, and Helen at Medieval Times

Dragons blood and a baby dragon for dinner! Yumm

The last night of conference, a few friends and I went out to downtown Dallas. Downtown Dallas is not very active at night since it is a business district, so we went to Uptown instead! It was crazy! The restaurants all along the streets were packed with people out having a good time. Later, we went to a small TexMex restaurant and had the most delicious shrimp tacos I have ever had. It was great to get out and explore some of what Dallas has to offer.

In closing, the 2015 Women in Aviation, International Conference was well worth the travel and missing a few days of class. Although very tiring, it was my first opportunity to experience a business conference and network with people. I recommend attending at least one time, even if you are not a pilot, or a woman for that matter! You will be able to take away so many great connections and memories from the conference.

Until next time,

Lindsey

My Life @ Riddle

Daytona Beach Edition

Say Hello to Summer

Home At Last (or am I?)

Adventure is out there!

Goodbye, Freshman Year

Music and Rockets: The Unlikely Encounters of the Third Kind

Daytona Beach Women’s Ambassadors Take on Arizona

We have how much time left?

Spring Break Recap

Snow? During Spring Break?

Go Girls!