First semester has finally come to an end and second semester is just around the corner! It is still hard to believe that my first semester at ERAU is over. Everything went by so quick except for the last 2 weeks when everybody was passionately studying for finals.  First Semester at Embry Riddle was also my first semester in college. Coming straight out of high school my time management skills along with my studying habits were poor. Over the course of the semester I progressed in managing my time in a better fashion and studying skills improved. In all honesty finals week really tested the new skills and habits first semester had taught me. Putting my newly acquired time management skills together with better studying habits I ended up getting A’s or B’s in all of my classes. This made me grow as a learner and next semester will only be better because I don’t have to go through learning how to manage time and obtaining better studying habits. Being an Aerospace Engineer at Embry Riddle I have a lot to look forward to in the up coming years

I cannot even come close to explaining how cool some of the professors are here at Embry Riddle! Back in high school when I first became interested in Embry Riddle Aeronautical University I would constantly hear and read about how cool the professors are. To my astonishment what I heard back home became true. This week for UNIV 101 also known as College Success our Professor and Advisor had a BBQ at his house for our entire class! When I first found out that we were going to have a BBQ at my professor’s house it seemed almost unreal because that would never happen in high school. We ended up having a great time at the BBQ and getting to know our Advisor Dr. Ashworth not only in the classroom. We grilled hamburgers patties and beef franks and sat around a fire pit. We all agreed that Dr. Ashworth made some of the best chili and beans we have tried. Then we found out that it was Dr. Ashworth’s Birthday so we all sang Happy Birthday and hung out. I love how most of the professors teaching at Embry Riddle actually make an effort and want to get to know their students. It is not anything like state universities where you have a class of 200 people or more in a lecture hall and if you decide not to show up nobody cares. Here your professors usually know you by your first name and class sizes range depending on major and year.  For the freshman class from the perspective of an Aerospace Engineer I would have to say that the average class size for my classes is about 40 students. Another thing is in most of my classes if you do not show up your professor usually knows who was in class and who was not, so it is a better idea to show up to class. Anyways it was a great opportunity hanging out with our professor outside of class and getting to know him better.

Now that I sit down to write my blog it makes me realize how long it has been since my last post. From going to class, to studying, to being involved with the Jet Dragster Team, to pledging a Fraternity, to learning how to manage my time in an organized manor, I have been so busy these past couple weeks. When I first found out that Friday October 15th was mid-semester break I immediately decided to go back home for the weekend since I have not been back in approximately 2 months now. On Thursday October 14th after class I took a shuttle down to phoenix and from there I caught the 6 o’clock flight with Southwest into LAX. When I arrived in LA my parents were waiting for me and after seeing me for the first time in 2 months they were happy and excited. That night we all went out to eat at El Torrito and relaxed back home after a couple friends stopped by to say hi. Friday was a great day I had the opportunity to go to the Kennedy vs. Cypress football game where I hung out with my friends from high school. The Kennedy vs. Cypress football game is one of the biggest football games every single year because both schools are rivals. To add to that both teams were undefeated so it was an intense game. Having graduated from Kennedy of course I wanted Kennedy to win alongside with all of my friends. Afterwards everybody went to innout which is pretty much the hang out spot in my area. It was a great night and I was excited to see all of my friends again! Saturday morning was pretty rough getting up because I was so tired but it was worth it because we had to set up for a party that we had later that night. It was really cool being home this weekend because it was my grandmas birthday, my moms birthday, and my birthday all within a 2 week period so we had the opportunity to celebrate. Then Sunday morning I flew back to Prescott with Great Lakes on a Beechcraft 1990, it was a pretty cool flight especially since the plane sits only 19 people and you can see the pilots in the cockpit the whole time. It sure was a great time chilling back home but when I got back to campus and my friends picked me up from the airport I was so happy to see them and in all honesty I have to say I missed my friends from Riddle. It was a great weekend, I definitely needed it to relax and get my mind off of school for a change.