It’s summer time again! Palm trees, sweet cool breeze, and beaches everywhere!….Well that’s what I would be saying if I was still in Florida right now. I’m sitting on my balcony of 15th floor where my apartment lays in Washington, D.C.  This is my new home, a whole new world to me.Looking back a couple of years ago to my freshman year at Embry-Riddle, I most certainly wouldn’t believe I’ve made it this far! Ashley Hollis-Bussey, a Commercial Space Operations major has been accepted as an intern for the Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) of the FAA. I have already started my first week and there is a lot I want to share and hope others can learn with me as I go through this amazing journey here in Washington D.C.

Coming here I didn’t know what to expect. How professional should I be? Should I ask a lot of questions or feel out the scenery? Etc… I wasn’t even sure if the environment in the office will be friendly or strictly business. One thing is for sure to not to get too nervous, and remember to breathe. It’s a chance of a life time, so I have to embrace it!

My first day was introduction day, getting to know everyone and seeing where my office will be, and what I will be doing for the next 10 weeks in AST. I got assigned to work on a project on Human Space Flight standards in relation to the Recommended Practices the FAA AST office has. The rest of week got even better! I attended some really awesome meetings…I wish I could share but I’m not allowed too…so sorry! But over all it was a good start. I recommend to everyone who starts a new job or internship that dressing up the first entire week is great for first impressions. Around the office of AST you get a mix of both professional and business causal. But either way it doesn’t hurt to be fancy sometimes! I didn’t ask many questions the first week being in the office only because I’m a shy person but now I know for the further weeks to come, I should ask as many questions no matter how small of question may be. I learned that the AST office was there for me. It was really cool to see how the AST office cared about us interns. They actually wanted to help us learn. I have heard many horror stories of other peoples internships and how they were basically thrown into the pit of fire, so I admit I was scared that was going to happen. But it didn’t! Couple of the meetings I went to, (this is something I can say), they gave brief lessons that they would give to anyone who is a new hire. Many of the managers of the divisions in AST also invited us to other important meetings that they thought could be of value to us. I even been invited to a Women of AST lunch-in!

There is so much I could say about my first week, but it has been an over whelming experience (in a good way). Since this is my first blog after all, I want to keep it short, sweet, and simple till next time!! I’ll make sure to take good picture of the office and the coolest places in D.C.!!

Till then…signing off,

Ashley