Campus Involvement Explained

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Grace

Hey ya’ll!

If you read my last post, you already know how much getting involved on campus has shaped my experience at Embry-Riddle. I talked about the organizations I’m part of and will now discuss how each one has helped me grow, connect, and find my place in the ERAU community. But there’s even more to the story.

In this continuation, I’m diving deeper into what these roles actually look like day-to-day — the responsibilities, the lessons, the moments that made everything worth it, and how each involvement has influenced my path in aviation and beyond. Whether you’re thinking about joining a club, taking on a leadership role, or just looking for ways to build your college experience, this follow-up will give you a closer look at what being involved at ERAU truly feels like.

The Avion – Design Editor

Working with The Avion has been one of the most rewarding parts of my involvement on campus. As the Design Editor, I’m responsible for bringing the newspaper to life visually — everything from layout and typography to color choices, graphics, and the overall look of each issue. It’s a role that blends creativity with problem-solving, and no two production weeks are ever the same.

One of my favorite parts of the position is collaborating with the rest of the amazing team. Writers, photographers, section editors, and designers all come together to build something that represents our campus community. I get to take their work and shape it into a final product that’s clean, engaging, and true to the story. There’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing a blank page turn into a polished spread that students pick up around campus.

Being Design Editor has pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect — from learning new software and developing a sharper eye for detail to managing deadlines and leading design discussions. It’s taught me how to communicate visually, work under pressure, and make creative decisions that support the message of each article. In this last issue I truly developed my skills in project management and was able to make last minute decisions to get it done on deadline.

Most importantly, The Avion has given me a space to express myself and contribute to something bigger than me. It’s a place where creativity meets community, and I’m proud to help shape what our newspaper looks like each week.

Keep an eye out for the Fall 2025 Issue 2 and a brand new modern website. 🙂

Women’s Ambassadors

Being part of the Women’s Ambassadors team has been one of the most meaningful and supportive opportunities I’ve had at Embry-Riddle. Our mission is simple but powerful: to help prospective students—especially young women in aviation and STEM—feel welcomed, encouraged, and confident as they explore ERAU.

As an ambassador, I get to connect with future Eagles through outreach events, panels, and one-on-one conversations. I get to share my experiences, answer questions, and give an honest look at what life is like here. It’s incredibly rewarding to see a student who arrives unsure of themselves and their place at school and leave with excitement, clarity, and a sense of belonging.

This role has also helped me grow personally and emotionally. It’s strengthened my communication skills, taught me how to lead with empathy, and given me the chance to represent a community that truly matters to me. There’s something special about being part of a group of incredible women dedicated to uplifting others and showing the next generation that they, too, have a place in aviation, aerospace, and everything in-between.

Being a Women’s Ambassador isn’t just about sharing information—it’s about building connections, creating a welcoming environment, and helping students see their potential. And every time I get to be part of someone’s decision to come to ERAU, it reminds me why I joined in the first place.

Most recently I helped group interview the next set of potential women’s ambassadors. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with young women on campus who are involved in so many incredible clubs, organizations, and research fields. I am happy to say that the young women chosen to begin in spring are going to have an incredible journey and make so many students feel at home.

Another happy announcement, I will finally be able to travel to the accepted student receptions in Spring 2026. I am so excited to meet everyone one there. If you happen to read my blog and ever see me on campus or at a reception event feel free to stop by and say hi.

New Student Orientation Team (O-Team)

Joining the New Student Orientation Team has been one of the most energizing and memorable parts of my involvement at Embry-Riddle. Orientation Team sets the tone for every new student’s first days on campus, the family’s first impression, and the chaos of beginning a whole new life. Being part of the team that welcomes them into the ERAU community is something truly special to me.

As an O-Team ambassador, I help guide incoming students through their transition to college life—whether that’s leading small groups, answering questions, running activities, or simply being a friendly face during a week that can feel overwhelming. We’re the first connection many students make at ERAU, and creating a positive, supportive environment is at the heart of everything we do.

What I love most about Orientation Team is the energy. The excitement, the nerves, the campus buzzing with new faces—it all creates an atmosphere you can’t find anywhere else. Getting to be part of that experience, and knowing you helped someone feel welcomed and confident, is incredibly rewarding.

This role has also helped me develop leadership, communication, and teamwork skills in ways I didn’t expect. Orientation week moves fast and requires adaptability, patience, and a lot of enthusiasm, but it’s the kind of challenge that brings out the best in you.

Being part of the O-Team feels like being part of a crazy fun family, one that’s dedicated to making sure every new student starts their Embry-Riddle journey on the right foot.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve as both an ambassador and specialist on the team. As I begin my final year on the mighty mighty O-Team I am thrilled to get a chance to meet each and every one of you.

Additional Involvement

Beyond my leadership roles, I also stay active in several other organizations that have helped shape my experience at Embry-Riddle. As a general member of groups like the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI), the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASASP), and the Aviation Safety Advisory Council, I’ve had the chance to learn from industry professionals, attend meetings and workshops, grow my personal network, and stay connected to the aviation and occupational safety community.

These organizations give me a deeper look into the world of safety, investigation, and professional standards—areas that have become increasingly important to my academic and career goals. Even without holding a leadership position, being part of these groups has been extremely rewarding and helped me propel my career forward.

Each of these memberships adds another layer to my involvement on campus and helps round out my experience as an aviation safety student.

All in All

Getting involved on campus has been a huge part of what has made my time at Embry-Riddle so meaningful. Each organization I’m part of—whether I’m serving in a leadership role or simply showing up and participating—has given me something different to grow from. These experiences have helped me find my community, develop real-world skills, and shape the direction I want to take in safety.

What I’ve learned along the way is that involvement doesn’t have to look a certain way. You don’t need to be a president, chair, or editor to make an impact. Sometimes just being present, learning, and connecting with others is enough to change your whole college experience.

If you’re looking to get more engaged on campus, I hope this breakdown gives you a starting point. Whether you join one club or five ( I don’t recommend 5 when first starting out), take on a leadership role or just explore what interests you, there’s a place for everyone here at Embry-Riddle. And you might be surprised by just how much you grow along the way.

If you ever have any questions about how to get involved on campus and the opportunities available feel free to leave a comment below!

Enjoy this beautiful sunset from campus last week. The evening sky looks as though its been painted.

Gorgeous sunset from outside the flight line

Girls in Aviation Day 2025

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Grace

Good day everybody!

As the semester kicks into full gear with classes, group projects, and clubs there have been a lot of cool things happening on and around campus. This past weekend I got to participate in an incredible event that helped inspire the next generation of women in aviation. I couldn’t have done it without this very special group of women.

At the Daytona Beach campus, I’m an active member of the ERAU Women in Aviation Chapter. Our group includes young women from all corners of the aviation industry—ranging from pilots and mechanics to experts in aviation safety, human factors, and more. I’ve been involved with Women in Aviation even before enrolling at Embry-Riddle, and it has continued to be a meaningful part of my journey. Just this past weekend, our chapter volunteered at the Girls in Aviation Day event, hosted by the regional Women in Aviation chapter at SHELTAIR.

At the event, several vendors, flight schools, and organizations came together to show young girls and their families all that aviation has to offer. From the moment they arrived and received their goodie bags to the excitement of reaching the flight line and seeing the aircraft up close, it was clear they were experiencing their dreams taking flight.

This year, I worked the photo booth alongside one of the Flexjet captains. She was incredible to talk to and inspired so many girls by sharing her journey and career in aviation. Nearby, a face painting booth helped imaginations soar with creative designs and lots of glitter.

Here is a picture of me with one of my fellow Aerospace and Occupational students on the left and on my right is the ERAU Daytona Beach Chapter President.

Embry-Riddle was proudly represented with one of our own Cessna 172s. In addition, organizations like FLAP, Women in Aviation, the VR Lab, and the MakerSpace hosted engaging activities, giving the girls hands-on experiences and a glimpse into the diverse and exciting world of aviation.

Girls in Aviation Day was more than just an event—it was a reminder of why representation, mentorship, and community matter so much in this industry. Seeing the excitement on the girls’ faces and watching their curiosity grow into passion was incredibly rewarding.

I’m grateful to be part of a group like Women in Aviation that actively works to create opportunities and spark inspiration in future aviators. As I continue my journey at Embry-Riddle, I look forward to more opportunities like this to give back, connect, and help shape the future of aviation—one dream at a time.

Aerospace and Occupational Safety Facing Changes

Posted on September 8, 2025 by Grace

Embry-Riddle offers a wide variety of degree programs where you are able to explore your passions and prepare for your future. Recently some programs have been going through a few changes. For example, my degree is changing in many ways.

In my bio you’ll see that I am majoring in Aerospace and Occupational Safety. I have a year left in this program and I have loved every moment. My classes have prepared me for careers in aviation safety as well as in the occupational and environmental safety field. Having this duality has opened a lot of doors for me when applying for internships. This summer I am working as a Safety and Environmental Intern at SeaWorld. Now I know you may be asking what does that have to do with aviation and the answer is ……… nothing, at least not directly. While I may be working with maintenance, rides, animal, and chemicals, this knowledge and principles of operation can still be applied to the aviation and aerospace industry. Next summer, I will be able to apply the knowledge I’ve gained from SeaWorld to my internship at GE Aerospace as an Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS), Facilities, and Maintenance intern. So, while my current internship does not deal with aviation the knowledge I gained from it will help my next summer at my dream company.

I have gotten to do so many incredible things in this program. Here are a few of my favorites!

Starting in the fall of this year the program is changing gears. There will no longer be an occupational safety option for the undergraduate program. The degree will now be Aviation and Aerospace Safety. This new degree will be accredited by the AABI (Aviation Accreditation Board International) instead of the current ABET. Embry-Riddle’s goal with this change is to create a more evolved focus in the aviation safety industry. While this is an understandable change given Embry-Riddle is an aviation focused school it does still have effects. If you are interested in the occupational safety side of things you can do the occupational safety minor. I highly recommend doing this as it will open more opportunities for you.

This program has a lot of advantages over many other programs offered by Embry-Riddle. First, the program is super small. Most of the time there is only one or two sections for a class. I’ve never had more than 35 people in one of my safety courses. Since there is such a small class size you are able to talk to your professors more frequently if you have questions. I’ve never had to worry about scheduling time to meet with my professors because they are always available to help during office hours. Another great thing about this program is the career opportunities you will have.

Almost every major company out there has an EHS or safety program. Some of the companies that students in the program are working for are:

Delta

United

American Airlines

Gulfstream

Seaworld

Sierra Nevada Corporation

Atlas Air

NTSB

GE Aerospace

And this list could go on and on….

As you can see the opportunities are endless. Once you find the area that you enjoy the sky is the limit. Take every opportunity that you can.

During the summer there is a great opportunity to participate in the Safety in the Aegean Study Abroad Program. As of now there should be a trip for Summer 2026. Dr. Szathmary, one of the excellent safety professors at Embry-Riddle, teaches several courses on the trip. Even if you can’t make the study abroad trip, I highly recommend taking her in-person classes during the spring and fall.

If you have a passion for safety, investigation, and improving the future of the industry, I highly recommend the College of Aviation’s BS in Aviation and Aerospace Safety. This program allows you the flexibility to find where your passion lies and help create a better and more sustainable future.

For new information about the program feel free to follow this link: https://erau.edu/degrees/bachelor/aviation-aerospace-safety

Surviving the First Week of Classes

Posted on August 25, 2025 by Grace

The start of the fall semester is just around the corner. In just a few days every student will be back on campus walking, biking, skateboarding, and the occasional running around campus getting to classes and lunch. If you are new to campus your first week may seem a little intimidating and overwhelming and that’s okay. We were all there once too. Throughout my time at Embry-Riddle, I’ve come up with a few tips to help make that first day and week feel like a breeze.

Walk Your Schedule
- Before my first day of classes I always “walk my schedule”. I go through a walk to each classroom in the order I would during a normal school day. This helps you get acquainted with where your classes are and the easiest way to get to the next one. If you are a new student, this will help you from being late on your first day.

Put Your Schedule in Your Phone
- I would not survive without my phone. Not because of social media but because of my calendar. My calendar is my life……… seriously. My whole entire schedule for school, work, and social is in my calendar. I put my class schedule into my calendar with the location, title, and times. I have my color coded as well as all of the clubs I am a part of. Most of us have our phones on us 24/7 so this is a quick and resourceful method to keep track of your schedule without having to carry around a paper.

Plan Your Lunchtime
- During lunchtime the Student Union can look a little chaotic. If you want Chick-fil-a I suggest going before 11 am and after 12:30 pm. That hour and a half in-between has a consistently long line. If you have the time to wait, go for it. However, if you only have 30-45 minutes in-between classes you most likely will not have time to wait. I personally bring lunch from home because I live off campus, do not have a meal plan, and it’s a lot cheaper. If you aren’t on a meal plan and want Starbucks, I recommend ordering ahead on the app so that by the time you get to the second floor of the union, it is ready for you.

Find a Quiet Place to Study
- Hopefully you don’t have too much homework your first week of classes but there are a few professors who see the first week of classes as just another regular week and give homework on day one. If you would like to have a quieter environment to do homework I recommend the third floor of the union, the library, or to reserve a study room. These are some of the best places on campus that I have found that have reliable Wi-Fi and low noise levels.

Don’t Wait till the Last Minute
- If you know you have an 8 am class do not wait till 7:45 to get up. Nobody wants to be rushed trying to get ready, eat breakfast and get to class. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to class so you can have a stress free week.

I hope these few tips help make your first week on campus a breeze. Just remember to take it step by step. You are going to do great things!

Best Study Spots on Campus

Posted on July 7, 2025 by Dominic

We all have those nights where we have an assignment deadline at midnight, or maybe a big exam in the morning, and need to find the perfect spot to study. However, despite spanning two floors, the library can be packed sometimes, and way too loud for some to concentrate on their work. Here are some of the spots besides the library that I find myself studying in.

First floor of the Student Union – one of my favorite places to study at night is in the green booth on the first floor of the student union. Normally after dinner time, the student union is not very packed and noisy, making it the perfect spot to grab at table with some friends and lock in on that assignment you have. The Student Union is open 24 hours for most days of the semester, so there is no limit on how much studying you can do (though I do not recommend pulling an all nighter). There is also the perk of having the late night refueling station right there in case you get hungry and need to take a study break. Finally, these booth are super comfortable and some of them have outlets for your laptops, iPads or phones.

The dorm study rooms – while this one might seem obvious, I feel that it is overlooked by a lot of people. All the dorms across campus have study rooms on each floor, and these were places the I requested to do my homework, especially when I was in speech class and needed to go over a speech I had to give in the morning. These rooms provided a more private area than the student union or library to be able to study, which comes in handy when you’re practicing for a presentation and need a place to concentrate. The study rooms in the student village even got brand new couches and tables last semester, making it an even better study experience when you need to practice your next presentation.

The Student Leadership Suite (SLS) – Located on the second floor of the student union this is the perfect study space for people during the day and during finals week. The Student Government Association (SGA) provides free coffee and candy to students in the SLS, perfect for a quick snack or caffeine break while you are studying. The suite also has comfy couches and white board tables that can be really helpful when trying to solve math and physics problems. While the suite does close at 8 pm, it is open late during finals week, where the SGA provides free food and energy drinks nightly during as a part of their late night study sessions. It’s the perfect place to study and make sure you stay energized during your daytime studies and finals week.

These are just some of my favorite study spots on campus, and I hope they come in handy whenever you are studying for your next big exam. Let me know if there are any other spots on campus that you love to study at!

Move-In Time: What You Really Need

Posted on June 25, 2025 by Grace

As we are quickly getting closer to the middle of the summer its time to start focusing on what you need to bring with you to move into the dorms. Now if you start doom scrolling on Instagram and TikTok there will be people telling you to bring this and that. But let me tell you……. half of that stuff you will never use and it will just end up taking space.

A lot of students like to “theme” their rooms and make it something that represents them and their hobbies. During my freshman year my side of the dorm was very pink and girly. My roommate loved sunflowers so her whole side was very floral. We didn’t know we were roomates until we moved in but it ended up workiing out well. If your are able to coordinate with your rooommate(s) it will help ensure that your room isn’t too cluttered. Here’s my list of the items that were crucial to me during my time in the dorms:

Dorm Room Essentials:

Mattress topper – trust me your back with thank you
Twin XL sheets
Mini fridge
- When your meal plans run out and you want a little snack or ice cream having one of these is a lifesaver.
- My roommate and I shared a minifridge to save on space.
Desk organizer
- The desk you are given only has one drawer, so if you have a lot of stationary i suggest having one of these.
Desk lamp
- The lighting in some of the rooms is kind of dim so for late night studying this is an essential.
Comfy pillow
Comfortor
Towels and washcloths
Personal hygenie items
Storage or shelving (make sure its nothing to big)
Hangers
Blanket (I was always freezing in the dorms….. lol)
Snacks
- There is no such thing as too many snacks
Laundry basket with either wheels or a handle
- The washer and dryers are not in your room unless you are in New Res 3 so I suggest a nice and sturdy laundry basket
Laundry detergent and fabric softner

These are just a few of the basics that you are going to want to have. Now decorations are completely up to you but I know I definitely brought way to many. I learned from my fall semester and took alot of it home during the Christmas break.

You can also see a list of things to bring – or not to bring – on the Residence Life page here. I hope this helps a few of the incoming Eagles. See you all in the fall!

Checklist Complete: Internship Season Begins

Posted on April 30, 2025 by Grace

Hello everyone! The Spring 2025 semester has officially wrapped up and summer has begun. I wanted to take a quick moment to introduce myself. My name is Grace Hamilton and I am an Aerospace and Occupational Safety Major with minors in Aviation Law, Aeronautical Studies, and Human Factors. I know it sounds like a lot but its really excited to see how they all intertwine. Spring 2025 wrapped up my third year at Embry-Riddle. It’s crazy to think that I’ve been an eagle for that long but time flies when you are having fun!

Last semester I had to great opportunity to tour United’s MRO facility at Orlando International Airport with the Aviation Safety Advisory Council. For anybody who, like me, at first doesn’t know what MRO means it stands for “Maintenance, Repair, and Operations.” Let me tell you, this trip was incredible. I got to tour both hangars and even see a B-737 completely gutted out that was getting rewired. There were so many components at this facility and I learned so many new things that I can apply to my career.

During the past month I have been so busy I can’t believe that I even got to sleep. Every week there were meetings, end of semester banquets, trainings, elections, and finals. Oh I can’t forget the three presentations that I had to do. All in all everything turned out really well. It may have been stressful and chaotic but it was so rewarding and exciting.

Towards the end of this month The Avion held elections for their new executive board. I’m excited to begin my postion as the 2025-2026 Design Editor for the Avion. I have so many fun and creative ideas to boost engagement and give students a platform to display their events, news, and photographs. So keep an eye out for what is to come!

Now that the semester is over I can begin focusing on my internship. I got accepted to SeaWorld and will be working for them as a Safety Specialist intern this summer in Orlando, Florida. I’ve been to SeaWorld so many times growing up that I was ecstatic when I got an email that I was accepted for the program. I don’t quite know all that I’ll be doing yet but that’s just part of the journey. What I can tell you all is that on my first day there I get to observe the fire evacuation procedures for the Sky Tower ride. It’s going to be a fun and busy first day.

It may sound like life at Embry Riddle is go go go all the time, and sometimes it can be. But, it is important to remember to take time for yourself and enjoy the little things. For me that is baking, embroidery, crocheting, and enjoying the beach. Today I baked two sourdough loafs. Nothing like fresh baked bread and a walk on the beach to make your day.

I hope you enjoyed my little debrief of my final few weeks of the semester. This summer is going to be exciting and full of new adventures that I am so excited to share with you all. There’s going to be alot coming this summer and next fall. I can’t wait to share my journey will you all! Have a great summer!

A Busy End to Sophomore Year

Posted on April 29, 2025 by Dominic

Hey everyone! As the spring semester comes to a close I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Dominic Popolo and I am a Communications Major with a track in Broadcast Meteorology and a minor in Emergency Management. I recently completed my second year at Embry-Riddle, which is crazy because it feels like I just started! I guess time just flies like that.

A picture of me in New York City last August!

This past week was probably the busiest I’ve had all semester. Between banquets, finishing up projects, presentations, and more, it has been a marathon. As stressful as it was, it was also super fun and rewarding.

My week kicked off on Easter Sunday, when my friends and I drove up to Matanzas Inlet to have one last beach day of the semester. I definitely enjoyed soaking up some sun before I return home to New Jersey, where it won’t quite be beach weather yet. The sun was definitely a little harsh and I got a little sunburnt, but I still had a blast!

Tuesday started off with my final presentation in my Thunderstorms class about the March 25, 2023 tornado outbreak. My partner Reagan and I had been practicing all weekend for this presentation, and we were able to successfully give all the information about the severe weather event in the allotted time. It was definitely a stress reliever to complete the presentation.

That night, I had the annual end of the year meteorology banquet, where we celebrated the accomplishments of both the Meteorology Department and the American Meteorological Society / National Weather Association (AMS/NWA) Chapter on campus. This banquet was a great time to get together as meteorologists on campus, eat some barbeque, and watch the annual “Professors Read Mean Evaluations” video. The executive board for AMS/NWA next year was also revealed at the banquet, and I will be serving as Secretary. I am so excited to help further the mission of the organization on campus!

The AMS/NWA Executive Board for the 2025-26 school year!

After the banquet, I went to my final Avion meeting of the semester as News Editor, where we celebrated the semester with a party and staff awards and superlatives. It was such a fun year in Avion this year, and I am so excited to continue my journey in the organization as Managing Editor next year!

My final meeting with my News Team in the Avion. News Team Best Team!!!

Thursday was another busy day. I started my day off by presenting my research project at the Humanities/Communication Research Symposium. My group researched how upperclassmen digitally market themselves to potential employers for our Communication Research Theory and Methods class. It was such an enlightening experience to be able to present our research that we have been working on all semester.

Presenting my research at the Humanities/Communication Research Symposium!

Later on Thursday, I attended the Student Government Association (SGA) End of the Year Banquet. Here, we highlighted the accomplishments of the SGA throughout the last year, and looked forward to what next year will bring. It was a great chance to spend time with my friends and celebrate our hard work throughout the year. We also got some great pictures at The Avion’s brand new photo booth!

The 2024-25 Avion Executive Board celebrating at SGA Banquet!

With Friday came study day, and I worked an entire day in the Weather Lab tutoring students for their Introductory and Aviation weather courses. I really enjoy my job here, being able to share my weather knowledge with students from all majors to help them succeed in their classes. Starting Friday night, I also assisted with the Late Night Study Sessions in the Student Leadership Suite, handing out donuts with the Avion as a part of the SGA’s broader initiative to feed as many students up late studying during finals. We gave out 10 dozen donuts in 17 minutes, which was crazy!

Finally, my week came to a close on Saturday. After working on our final reports and projects all day, my friends and I decided to take a drive to the park at Ponce Inlet with some Taco Bell for a break from the stress of finals week. This was a nice way to end our super busy week and spend some time with each other before we all disperse for the summer. A couple of my friends are graduating this semester, and I am so sad to see them leave. But I know there will be even more friends to be made and adventures to have when I return to campus in August.

A nice night at Ponce Inlet to cap off my crazy week.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into my final week of Sophomore year on campus. Just know that there is much more to come over the summer and next fall! See you all soon!

Last First Day

Posted on January 16, 2025 by Isabella

I am writing this because it is my last first day of classes. Possibly ever.
I have spent years at ERAU. Four years in high school (long story that some of you may know), four years of undergrad, and now finishing up my last year for my graduate degree. I remember campus before the current Student Union was built, when Starbucks was attached to the library and next to the food hall with the tiny Chick-fil-a and the odd Asian buffet thing.

I could spend all day reminiscing but am going to leave today’s post with a multitude of photos of Kennedy Space Center over the holidays. KSC always does light shows and the most beautiful holiday decorations. If you are a student, it is SO WORTH IT to get an annual membership. You get food/merch discounts, and if you go at least twice you get your money’s worth.

Reflecting on 3 and a half years.

Posted on November 21, 2024 by Chloe

There are no pictures that can perfectly encapsulate these last 3 ½ years, so this is all text, I apologize. Regardless, I hope you enjoy the read, and maybe find some inspiration from it.

12 class days. 28 total days. I will graduate with my bachelor’s degree on December 12, 2024. And I am terrified. Excited, of course, but terrified. But I want to use this post as a reflection on the past 3 ½ years at Embry-Riddle.

When I first started at ERAU in the fall of 2021, I had the same feeling as I do now. Terrified. Excited, of course, but terrified. I had no idea what the future had in store for me as a bright-eyed, happy-go-lucky freshman. I remember my first year in the dorms fondly; Hanging out with people I just met as though I’ve known them for years characterized most of that time. I remember playing mini golf in the quad outside of the student union at 10pm, and being fascinated by the Starship robots that roam the campus. I learned to ride a skateboard, although I did fall and skin my knee a few too many times (I still have the scars). I joined a sorority, and I got my first campus job. I had the privilege of photographing my brother’s engagement, an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world. In my first semester, I achieved a 4.0 GPA, a goal I’m looking to reach once again in my last semester (kind of a full-circle moment idea). I was elected into a chair position for my sorority, and I helped plan our continued involvement in Intramural sports, specifically volleyball, something the chapter is still participating in now. I went to my first career fair, and oh, how I’ve grown since then. I got yet another campus job, one that I still look back on fondly, wishing I could have done more in my time in that role. All in all, I completed not just my first year at Embry-Riddle, but my first year on my own. And, if I do say so myself, I think I did a pretty good job in that.

My first summer after starting college consisted of moving back home to work at a waterpark just about everyday. Nothing too eventful, just making sure everyone there was having fun and staying safe. I found it to be a great way to productively enjoy my summer. Although, that summer did go by pretty fast, especially considering I had to be back at the Daytona Beach campus a couple weeks early for RA Training.

RA Training marked the beginning of my second year at Embry-Riddle. Again, terrified. Excited, of course, but terrified. I remember having an absolute blast at training. Sure, we had some early mornings and some long training sessions. But, all of it was worth it for the experiences I had and the people I met. I remember visiting my older sister in the housing office often, maybe even 3 or 4 times a week (She was a graduate assistant for Housing and Residence Life my first year as an RA). I remember attending some of my first Embry-Riddle hockey games, and also working some of my first RA duty shifts, and writing my first incident reports too. I remember my first time recruiting for Sigma Kappa (my sorority), and my first time observing a friend’s flight. I remember getting to take engagement photos for a coworker, and having to keep that secret for a whole month. During my second year, I was in my first episode of the Avion Broadcast, and would continue doing that for the upcoming year (more on that later). I got to see one of my best friends, my sister Megan, graduate with her Master’s degree in Human Factors Psychology. I also attended my first (and only, so far) Taylor Swift concert with my sisters (3 of them, and biological, not sorority sisters) and a friend. My sisters and Taylor pretty much rounded out my year, and brought me to my second summer after starting college and my first summer staying around in Daytona Beach.

During my second summer, I continued to work as an RA, and I also started work as a lifeguard at the new Embry-Riddle fitness center pool. Once again, my main focus was on making sure everyone was having fun and staying safe. I got the chance to ride in a seaplane, which I highly recommend, and I got to celebrate the release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) with one of my sorority sisters. So, Taylor rounded out my summer too and brought me back to reality aka year two of RA Training.

My second go-around as an RA kickstarted by third year at ERAU, and my last full school year prior to graduation. (Terrifying. Exciting, but terrifying.) I remember getting to be a part of training scenarios for the new RAs, and once again, Taylor Swift was involved. This is one of those “you had to be there” moments, and I’ll just leave you with the fact that I had a blast and loved getting to make a lot of people laugh during some pretty intensive training scenarios. I remember starting in my role as SGA Senator for the College of Business, and starring as a co-anchor for the Avion Broadcast. I also remember breaking my foot, and spending essentially a whole semester on crutches. I remember getting to visit Salem, MA with my younger sister and my mom near Halloween, which was especially spooky. I remember spending my first Thanksgiving with the housing staff, rather than with my family at home. I got yet another job, this time off campus, as a server. I started looking for a place to live for my last summer and my last semester. One of my favorite memories from this year, though, has to be my trip to San Diego, CA with The Avion for the Spring 2024 Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) Spring College Media Conference. Another favorite has to be getting to see another one of my best friends graduate with his Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Business Administration. I also remember getting to compete in Delta Chi’s first ever Martlet Madness Philanthropy Competition, and getting to meet so many new people. New opportunities and good friends characterize most of this year, and brings me to my last summer before graduating from Embry-Riddle.

Summer 2024 was my last summer before graduation. I remember reprising my role as a lifeguard at the Embry-Riddle pool, after taking the last year off due to injury and then further scheduling conflicts. I remember moving into my first ever apartment, but certainly not my last. I spent a lot of the summer evenings at work, serving, usually after spending a day reading a book at the pool at the apartments or after work at ERAU. I also remember purchasing a bottle of wine with my name on it (seriously, the brand was Chloe) to celebrate my 21st birthday. While the summer may not have been the most exciting, it brought me to where I am now. A new apartment, and my last semester of my undergraduate career.

My last semester. I feel as though it’s hard to reflect fully on the semester, mostly because I don’t want to accept the fact that it is almost over. (I’m terrified. Excited, but terrified.) The semester started off smoothly, but pretty quickly, Florida weather began to wreak havoc. 2 individual instances of classes getting canceled due to a hurricane was not on my bingo card for the semester, but that did in fact occur. This might have made the semester slightly easier to handle, but I’m still not sure. As I’m sitting here writing this, I am procrastinating some final projects, again, refusing to believe this chapter of my life is almost over. I will work on those projects when I’m done writing this, but first, I want to end this reflection on a note of thanks.

Thank you, first, to my parents, who have always pushed me to work as hard as I can, and have helped me get to the point I am now. Thank you to my sister, Megan, who was always by my side, even when I was wrong. Even though Megan is older than me and was at ERAU longer than me, she didn’t mind being known as “Chloe’s sister.” Thank you for staying back and watching me shine. Thank you to my sorority sisters, specifically Steph, my biggest hype-woman, and Sam, my forever favorite lunch date, and Kel, my favorite person to laugh with about feeling like ducks when it rains a lot. Thank you to my sorority sisters turned roommates, Nicole, Jemma, Livy, and Erin. Whether it was a week of being roommates, a couple months, or almost a whole year, thanks for taking me in. Thank you to every employer I ever had on this campus, all of you were incredibly understanding, and always pushed me to do my best work. I wouldn’t be where I am without those experiences. Thank you to my many friends who have helped me realize my worth, and have loved me even when I didn’t love myself. Thank you to my professors, who have taught me so much, and again, I promise I’ll do those projects when this is done. Thank you to Matthew, who inspires me everyday to work harder than anyone ever expects me to, to never stop working to be my best self, and for allowing me to be fully myself, whether that involves taking myself a little too seriously or not seriously at all. There are far too many more people to thank, but if you took the time to read this far, thank you. I love you all, and I hope we’ll cross paths again after graduation. There are also so many more memories I didn’t mention, but if we share those memories, just know I am forever grateful for every single one of them.

This might be my last post here, but in all honesty, I’m not quite sure. Maybe I’ll write another just to continue procrastinating (kidding). Again, thank you. Here’s to the exciting future. Terrifying future, of course, but exciting.

Sincerely,

Chloe Christovich

11/14/2024

My Life @ Riddle

Daytona Beach Edition

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