May 4, 2006
This semester has come and gone so quickly, I can not believe I have been
here for an entire year.
Things have been really hectic here the last week
of school because of finals; I had so many papers to write. Things are going
good though concerning my final grades and I am satisfied with how things
will turn out.
It is going to feel good to get another break from doing all
of this work for a little bit, by the end of a semester you get kind of worn
out in way. The only downside for me is I am going to be taking classes both
the summer A and summer B sessions back home in order to graduate and get
onto the FAA waiting list sooner.
After my last exam which is AT305 tomorrow
at 12:30, I am officially done with the Spring '06 semester for three weeks
until mid May.
Looking back from now, so much has happened this past year.
I remember not even 12 months ago I would sit by my computer researching
as much as I could about Embry-Riddle's student life and reading all the
journal entries. Now, I am an experienced Riddle student who is even a journal
writer -- who would have imagined.
Within this year I made a lot of great new
friends, joined a Fraternity, passed all my classes with good grades and
so much more. I conquered all of my uncertainties and worries I had before
I came down here when I was in most of your positions, future freshman.
Looking
back on it though, there was no reason to feel that way because this school
is great. From my classmates to the faculty and staff here, everyone is really
nice and helpful. The Professors I have had this past year were all so knowledgeable,
I have a lot respect for just about every single one and I am sure you
will too.
To give all of you some advice for when you come here, be yourself
and make as many friends as you can. Next year will be my 4th year of college
and I always see the same stuff happening with new students.
When you
come here it will be like nothing you have ever experienced, you will be
alone and need to start over a new reputation and group of friends, no more
high school statuses. So, get a good group of friends and stay out of your
dorm room as much as you can the first week, unless you are with other people
besides your roommates.
Go to as many of the school activities you can
for orientation and even the night programs even though they are usually
corny, sometimes they're good. Be the bigger person and go up to as many
new people as you can and get to know them, most of you will be new here and
have a lot to talk about, so don't be shy. Just get out there and do it even
if it feels scary or weird! If you get asked to go to a Fraternity/Sorority
party, you have been introduced to a great opportunity; just do not get too
carried away that first night with the fun.
Letting go of home is going to
be the hardest part of transitioning into your new college life, your first
two weeks will be the toughest. Listen to my advice and I guarantee you
will have the time of your life from the beginning of school until the end.
Don't be that kid who sits in his dorm room hiding all day and night.
Finally,
sleeping in feels soooo good, but go to class every day because sleeping
in or skipping class is almost addictive.
This is my last journal entry and
I hope I have helped most of you get a better picture of what college life
is really like here at Embry-Riddle. I can honestly say I am proud to be
a student here and couldn't ask for a better school to end up in. College
is going to be one of the most fun and exciting times in your life that will
definitely define your character. Do as many unique and crazy things you
can here because you only live once, there are a few things I do not think
I can every forget (no regrets).
If you are wondering about me, I will be senior
next year and hopefully graduating next spring. After graduation I plan
on taking the summer off and then starting on my Master's degree before the
FAA gives me my call. My future goal and dream is to work in a major center
or major tower like the big leaguers in
Newark Liberty Airport ATC Tower (EWR).
If anyone ever has
any questions or concerns I might be able to help guide you through with,
feel free to email me anytime at beim582@erau.edu or come up to me on campus.
I wish all of you the best of luck and have a safe summer.
April 7, 2006
The semester is almost over, I just have to get through finals and I am done with college for about three weeks. I am then going to be taking summer classes back home in order to graduate in the Spring of '07. I did not realize how many credits this school was going to be accepting until I completed my college career course outline. I had to do all kinds of paper work these past two weeks just to be sure I had not missed any courses or requirements. I declared my minor a week ago which I decided to go with psychology. I still can not believe how fast my college career is going and the fact that I only have one more year to go here at Riddle. In one sense I am excited about getting my name on the FAA waiting list and graduating, but on the other hand I am kind of disappointed that I am going to be leaving this school and thrown into the real world. Things seem to be going very smoothly for me if everything works out and hopefully they will.
I am happy to report that my ATC radar lab is going great now. I was worried for a little while because I was not as proficient at it as I wanted to be in there. Now things just seem to be flowing out of my mouth and the pressure is not as intense because I have a good feel for it. When people say ATC is one of the most stressful jobs in the country, now I know why. I have only gotten a little taste of what working traffic is like and I can't wait to feel some of the intense pressure involved with the heavier airspaces. It feels good to have these technical sounding commands firing out of my mouth like second nature and actually organizing and controlling all the traffic on the screen. This field is so for me and I am still so happy I came to Riddle to pursue something I am passionate about.
The weather is starting to turn from comfortable to hot here and the sense of the end of the semester is in the air. This past weekend the band New Found Glory came to Riddle and threw a big concert which was sponsored by Touch & Go productions. The concert was really good for Riddle and I managed to get into the front row which wasn't so good. I got kicked in the face and head like 4 times by crowd surfers but it was all worth it when the lead singer leaned into the crowd right in front of me. That night was so much fun and after the concert it was even more fun with my Fraternity.
I bet most of you future Embry-Riddle students are excited about coming here considering August is getting closer and closer. You should be because a lot of fun new experiences are soon approaching you. I appreciate the comments about my journals from you future students and hope my advice is helping you. Until the final journal entry, keep up in school even though you already have a future awaiting you and stay out of trouble.
March 27, 2006
Once again things are going very fast and hectic here in Daytona Beach for me. Last week my Fraternity just had its big formal event, which we call the Orchid Ball. It was at a really upscale hotel in Universal Orlando and everyone definitely had a good time. My fraternity brothers voted me Pledge of the Year so I was really happy about that. Only thing that did not go right that night was that security kicked us out of the pool twice. The weekend was a really nice experience to be a part of and I am already looking forward to next year to go again.
Classes are going pretty well too. I am not doing very well in my economics class but now that I am back from Spring break, I am recharged and motivated to do what I have to in order to pull my grade up to where I want it. Humanities class is going well also. I still can't believe how much respect towards art and music my Professor has handed off to me and my class. The other night I saw two pieces of artwork on TV and I knew the name of the paintings as well as the artists and the stories behind them; never thought I would care before I took this class. In my Aerospace Safety class, we just finished learning about A&P mechanics' responsibilities involving the FAA, as well as airport security. I did awesome on the A&P section considering I am a fully licensed one. Finally, my ATC labs are still not going as well as I would like them to. I am having a bit of trouble in there but nothing too bad. It is more of the sense of perfection I want to attain because this class is what I hope to do in my future life. I know I have a while before graduating, but I am already anxious and nervous about getting called into the FAA academy. A few people I know have graduated Embry-Riddle already and are still waiting for their 'call' by the FAA. Right now I am focused on getting a really high score on my AT-SAT, which is like the controller placement exam. But, there is only so much I can do right now so doing well in classes should be my only concern.
The last big event here in Daytona was Bike Week. There were so many motorcycles everywhere you turned. One cool thing I noticed was that if you had a specific type of bike design within a manufacturer, all of those bikers would stick together and ride in huge packs. Another thing I noticed were the bonds all the bikers shared. If a motorcycle broke down on the side of the street then other bikers would immediately pull over and offer assistance. This would happen all over town. I have seen so many different bikes in one week, some of them were crazy, some weird, and a lot looked very expensive. I went to Main Street the last night of bike week and it was so loud. The noise from hundreds of motorcycles echoing off of the buildings was almost deafening. Besides Bike Week, Spring Break has been going on in Daytona for about a month now. The beaches are filled with college kids and there are cars driving up and down the beaches with those Mardi Gras beads hanging off the mirrors for those who think they will see some action. In all honesty though, don't think that Spring Break in Daytona Beach is anything like the Spring Break you see in Cancun on MTV. It is still wild here but nothing compared to that stuff.
So much has been going on here that time is just disappearing and I know I will soon find myself back up in NJ for the summer. Hope everyone who reads my entries are finding them helpful and if there is anything you want me to talk to you about email me or post it on the discussion board before it is too late. I want to congratulate my brother Seth and his new Fiance Christy on their engagement. Stay safe during your break, have fun, and remember you only live once but don't get caught. Enjoy your Spring Break!
February 22, 2006
Wow, what a week! We just got hit by the Daytona 500 and what an experience. There were so many people here in Daytona let alone the traffic. Actually, this entire past week was like that for race week, but the Daytona 500 was like the grand finale. My Fraternity worked the races as a fund raiser; basically we acted as security for the parking lots on campus not allowing any race fans to park in them. At first it started out slow, not many people tried to get past our blockade. Later on in the day though, there were people every other minute trying to get in willing to give us money if we let them by, as a college student it was tempting but I was there for a reason.
About two hours before the actual race began, my friend called me up and said he had an extra ticket into the Daytona 500. There was so much energy from this one event surrounding the area, there was no way I could pass up an offer like that, so I got a Brother to relieve me from my security position and went to the race. I assumed we were going to get some cheap seats because the scalpers who were all over the streets were pushing $120 to $175 per ticket, but was I wrong. After walking through the huge crowds of people just outside the race track, we showed the security our wrist bands and were waved through. I never felt so much energy then I did walking through the tunnel to the inside of the track. It turned out my friend had the gold VIP wrist bands which meant we were allowed full access to the infield rather then the color coded zones. It was crazy in there, from the high class RV busses to the BBQ's going everywhere; it was like one huge party. People were so happy for the race and everyone was partying together from one RV to another. I never knew race fans were so nice to each other and in general, or maybe it was because we were in a very pricey section. My friends and I ended up watching the race at the most dangerous turn, turn # 2 where there was actually one crash and two contacts. We were so close to the track we could feel the wind whipping off the cars as they screamed by. It was such an amazing location where we ended up at the Daytona 500 I don't think I could have asked for a better way to experience the race.
 Classes are going very well, I just started doing the in-class radar scenarios last week through voice instructions to my partner in the other room. They are a lot of fun because you get so into the situations, but in all honesty they are kind of tough. There is so much small information you need to apply so quickly that the work seems to get slightly overwhelming. The best thing I can do though and which I have been doing is to work aggressively at getting rid of the traffic on my radar. This is my first radar class so I am sure with a little bit more time things will transition a lot more smoothly, but I still enjoy the course. All my other classes are going well, Principals of Business is beginning to become a lot more applicable and I am really interested in what we are going over now.
That's all for this time, if you have any questions feel free to email me. A lot of you have been, and I hope my feedback is beneficial to all of you. Until next time, keep up with your school work and stay out of trouble!
February 9, 2006
Time seems to be flying by this semester and yes, it is early to be saying that. I have all ready had some major tests in my classes and luckily, this semester they don't all fall in the same week. The next big test I have which I am trying to prepare as best as I can for is my ATC 7110.65 test; all about standard procedures and phraseology controllers use. I think I will do well on it because I remember a lot of the basic lingo that controllers in Newark tower used. Some word of advice for those of you who will be taking AT 305 is to get your lab hours done as soon as possible. I finished mine ahead of time but when I walked by the radar simulator room today there was a line of people waiting to get in because they waited until last minute. You see, the first day of class the professor gives a deadline date which you must have all of your practice lab hours done by in order to move on in the class. The deadline this semester is February 10th so a lot of people are scrambling to make up the time; it feels good though not to worry about waiting in lines now that I am done. Just keep this advice in mind when you take this class. I can't wait until next week when we are actually going to use the labs as part of our classroom time rather then sitting through lecture. I am overall doing well this semester academically, so I am content with that area of my college career.
My Fraternity is also doing really well. We have a bunch of new Pledges who are pretty cool guys and I look forward to getting to know them better. It feels so good though being on the other side of things as a Brother. I just found out that my other college I transferred from is starting a new Sigma Pi colony there so it will be good to visit them when I see my old college friends back in Pennsylvania.
The Daytona 500 and speed week are just around the corner and things are getting crazy here once again. I drove past the race track yesterday and there were nice racing trailers all over as well as huge tents being set up and porta-potties everywhere. Every street corner and median has those bright light generators you often see in construction. I can not even anticipate how busy this town is about to get, I am so excited for it. I am working the races one of the nights with my Fraternity so it should be a lot of fun walking around with my friends and Brothers through the chaos.
That's it for this entry. For all of you high school seniors, continue working in school, don't let the "senior-itis" get to you too much. These next few months are going to be some of the most memorable times of your life so take it all in and "appreciate" what you have in your lives. You might disagree with me right now but I bet a year after you graduate you will know exactly what I mean. Finally, good luck to everyone still trying to get into Riddle as well as who did, I'm out!
January 26, 2006
I am glad to report I finally have my routine down for this semester. My schedule on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays is not as bad as I originally anticipated it to be. The weeks already seem to be flying by and I have been very busy lately. I like all of my classes except economics because I mean bottom line, it's not very interesting. I originally thought humanities was going to be dry and boring as well, but I actually enjoy going to that class as well as all of my other ones. We are learning about early renaissance art right now and I never realized how genius the artists were back in that time period. That class kind of gives you a different outlook on life and I am surprised I am so intrigued by it.
Intro to Business is kind of fun because the professor tries to get you to think outside of the box and make rational decisions. It is always interesting to hear the ideas other people in my class have come up with as well as their reasoning behind them. Aerospace safety class is also very interesting, we are going over aircraft crashes and faults behind what lead to them. It is at eight in the morning, but the slides he shows us and the topic make it worth waking up for it. Finally, what most of you have been waiting for, my ATC class is very interesting too. Right now we are reviewing the 7110.65 which is like the complete instruction book of an air traffic controller. We are learning in more detail about aircraft separation, controller terminology, and some other basic instructions so we will be prepared on February 10th when we enter the simulator lab. Our one objective so far in the class is get ten hours of simulator time by the 10th. Unfortunately I have been procrastinating a little with that, I still have plenty of time until the cutoff date, but I want to do all the time before the rush is on.
Besides academics, Embry-Riddle just had the activities fair the other day again for the Spring Semester. Once again there were tables everywhere for each individual club you could join, it is really cool to see how much extra stuff this school has to offer. I worked my Fraternity "Sigma Pi's" table for a few hours and we got a good amount of interests.
This past Saturday I was actually initiated into the Sigma Pi Fraternity which I am really happy and proud about. It took a lot of work and effort, but after being initiated it was all worth it. The ritual was unlike anything I have ever experienced and it meant a lot to me, so now I am an official "Brother." Just in time for the "Meet the Greeks" day. It is a day where all of the Greek organizations set up booths and try to recruit people. Since I was a Brother for it, I was able to wear our Sigma Pi letters, which I did honorably. Now we are currently in the middle of Rush week, when we meet the prospective pledges and see if they are qualified to pledge our organization. It also gives the prospectives a chance to see if they like us Brothers and want to pledge our organization. We had some awesome events so far and last night we had a good band play at our BBQ on the west lawn, we had a good turn out.
Well, that's it for this entry, I know it was long but there has been so much going on. I definitely recommend going Greek here at Riddle because it is so much fun and it will shape anyone's character into something even better then who they think they are. To all of you high school students, good luck with everything concerning acceptance into this school and do not stress too much. If you do get in, it will be one of the best experiences of your life and I guarantee that, good luck everyone.
January 12, 2006
I'm back in Daytona Beach, ready to take on yet another semester. I hope everyone had a safe and fun break and enjoyed their holidays, I know I did. The first night I got back to my hometown was a lot of fun, catching up with friends I had not seen during Thanksgiving and reuniting with the ones I did see. It felt so good to be able to sleep in most of my vacation and just take it easy, preparing for the spring semester here. I spent my holidays at my friend's house because every year he throws a big Christmas party, once again it was a lot of fun. My family did our big dinner and gift exchange a few days after Christmas because my brothers went to their girlfriends homes so we wanted to wait until everyone was together. New Years was another memorable night for me. I went to another friend's house and saw so many people I lost touch with since I graduated high school in '03. After looking back on the break I wonder where it went, time flew by so quickly. I am glad to be back in Daytona Beach, though I am going to miss all my family and friends. I am not going to miss the ice cold weather. It was like paradise walking through the airport terminal in Daytona, getting my luggage, and then walking outside into the beautiful weather. I'm hoping we will have some colder days here though because I just got a whole bunch of new sweaters! But there is no way I am going to complain.
I got my final grades a few nights before Christmas and I was really satisfied. I thought I did horrible on my meteorology exam but I guess I didn't do so bad after all, actually I think I did well on it. My current GPA is exactly where I want it to be and I am hoping to do even better next semester. Today was actually the first day of classes and do I have a terrible schedule! My day felt like it was never ending and my professors are all really big on attendance, even my 8am professor. It will keep me in check though, so I guess I have no choice but to look at the positive side of it. I am really excited to be starting my first ATC simulator lab. Our class is going to be divided into two rooms. One room is going to be the actual radar sim lab, and the other room is going to be like the pilot response room. The ATC simulator students are going to talk directly to the fake pilots and give them commands and wait until they comply. It seems like a lot of fun but in reality, this is business. This class should give me a good idea if I am cut out for ATC or not, no matter what I have done in my past. It seems like it is going to be tough but that's how the industry is and I have no choice but to step it up from here on out. How's that for pre-semester motivation!
I am really glad to be back here at Embry-Riddle and am looking forward to another semester full of crazy times. My fraternity partied with 'Al Bundy' this week at one of our brother's houses, but unfortunately I wasn't there and although missed out, it is a good sign that this semester will have a lot going down. We have the Daytona 500, all the smaller races, bike week, and, best of all, spring break coming up. Most of my new classes are the dry types you need to graduate with, so staying focused will be a challenge this semester, but I'm determined. Its good to be back and I will talk to all of you soon. And to all of you high school seniors who are applying to ERAU be sure to get all of your paper work in early and good luck!
December 6, 2005
One more week left of classes!!!! This coming Thursday the 7th
is our last class day for this semester and looking back, time
has flown by so quickly.
Don't get the wrong idea though, just because we don't have classes
doesn't mean we are not excepted to study for our finals, everyone
has a lot of work to do. I am exempt from my air traffic 2 final
due to a high enough grade which I am really excited about. Luckily
I can say, classes have gone by smooth for me this semester,
I think I have run through only one rough spot.
To give some of you planning on coming here some advice as for
what I have learned academically here since attending this August,
it would be take really good notes, and study for your tests
no later then 2 days before you take them. I used to study the
night before, but I learned quickly that doing that is not always
the best option when you have to consider time management.
Last week I went home for Thanksgiving and it was so much fun.
I never experienced walking through an airport terminal to greet
my parents, and what a feeling it is to do so. I got to see most
of my friends and catch up with my family, it was such a good
time but unfortunately, the time went by too quickly. I was not
too disappointed when I had to come back because first off it's
Daytona Beach, and second I will see everyone again in only three
weeks when I go home for Christmas break. This first week back
just flew by; I still can't believe next week we are done for
the semester, time to start sleeping in! I really do not have
too much to say for this entry which some of you could probably
tell. So with that admitted, I will catch you guys later.
December 1, 2005
Not too much has been happening since last time I wrote, but I do have some
good news. My pledging has officially ended and now I just have to wait to
be initiated into the Fraternity next semester. It has been a long pledge
period but now, since I can look back on it, it was well worth it. This
week is currently Greek week and all the Fraternities and Sororities on
campus compete against each other in various activities. It is like the
Olympics but much more fun to participate in. Some of the events were
longest standing human pyramid, building a cardboard and duck tape canoe and
rowing it across the pool, chariot races, and of course the tug of war. It
has been a lot of fun being able to participate with a Fraternity rather
then just watching, it was a good time.
Classes are going really well for me. It is kind of strange because often
students do really well in the beginning of the semester and slack during
the end of it, but for me it is just the opposite. I am doing really well
in my ATC classes and they are getting more technical and interesting. This
past week I had to register for next semesters classes, luckily I got every
one I wanted. The only down side to that is they are in the time periods I
don¹t want to have them. Three days out of the week I am going to have four
classes all lined up beginning at 8 in the morning, I am not very excited
about that at all. I did manage to grab one of the last seats for AT 305,
which is a simulator/ lab ATC class. As far as meteorology and human
factors are going, they are getting kind of dull, but I am doing well in
them. At this point in the semester I am counting down the days until it is
over, almost there.
November 3, 2005
These past two weeks have been some of the busiest most fun times I have
had in Daytona yet. We just had homecoming and it was so much fun. My
Fraternity built a float on the back of a Ryder trailer and we made it into
a pirate ship. The theme of the homecoming parade was "Once Upon a Time,"
so we did Pinocchio. For some reason we all dressed up as pirates and had
one person wear a long nose to represent Pinocchio, but it was a lot of fun..
When our float went under the walkway near the student village, our mast on
the pirate ship hit and snapped in half, it was really funny and the crowd
was very amused, but duck-tape did the job to get it back up. We didn't win
any awards for our float because some of the other organizations went
through extremes in decorating, but the surf club won the best on-campus
sign.
Besides the parade, the Touch and Go production team hired Carlos Mencia to
do a show one of the nights and he was really good. He is the comedian with
his own show on Comedy Central "Mind of Mencia." This past week was also
Sky Fest and Alumni weekend for my Fraternity besides the entire school. We
had a big BBQ right along the airport and watched all of the aerobatics and
fighter jets perform their shows right above our heads. They even had a jet
engine mac truck rip down the runway. My favorite part of the show would
have to be the A-10 doing low fly-bys simulating air-to-ground bombings with
actual pyrotechnics and fire. It gave me the chills every time the A-10
would fly over because I am sure it has been the last thing many people have
seen who fight against the US. After the BBQ that night, everyone got
together and we all partied ³responsibly² with the Alumni. Pledging is
still "going," but there is only 2 more weeks I have to make it through
until I am done.
As far as academics are going, I just survived my second series of major
exams which all happened in to be in the same week again. I did really well
on every one of them and am really getting motivated to keep up the good
work. Going to class ever day is becoming a bit of a challenge now, but
since I am doing this good so far why waste my previous effort by being
lazy? In my ATC classes we are going over a lot of familiar stuff to me
since I am already a pilot, but reviewing sectionals and basic navigation
could never hurt. I am so excited to be going to Embry-Riddle for ATC, I
just finished scheduling my classes for next semester and the ATC ones look
like so much fun.
That's is it for this entry. Keep the questions coming those of you who
have been sending me them. Until next time work hard and stay out of
trouble.
October 20, 2005
Hi again everybody.
There has been so much going on here lately in the
area. This week is BiketoberFest and there are motorcycles everywhere.
Traffic is not too bad on the mainland side but beachside it is, the noise
from the bikes is kind of getting a bit annoying. I have seen some
crazy/weird people I don't think I would have ever imagined seeing, but they
all ride ridiculously awesome motorcycles. These bikers definitely do carry
the 'stereotype' of being hard partiers from what I have seen at night, but
they all share a fun time together. Daytona Beach is like nothing I ever
imagined.
I am officially a member now of the Riddle-Surf club. I went to the surf
trip this Sunday and it was a lot of fun. Basically everyone from the club
goes to the beach together and surfs, the more experienced surfers usually
ended up teaching the beginners. If any of you ever want to learn how to
surf, I definitely recommend joining the surf club.
Since I'm on the topic
of clubs, a good amount of you have been e-mailing me questions about my
Fraternity. Now that I am about half-way through pledging, it is beginning
to get a bit more challenging. Luckily all of my pledge brothers are really
fun to be with. Pledging is not 'too' bad, we give each other support when
needed. Greek life is definitely not for everyone, but if it is for you,
I guarantee it will be the most fun and greatest experience you
will ever have. Most Fraternities promote scholarship so grades are always
number one priority; at least with Sigma Pi the concern is pretty high
up there. It seems like every weekend is getting better than the last
and I can see a noticeable bond forming between us pledges and the Brothers.
I definitely feel proud and privileged to be pledging Sigma Pi Fraternity. As far as my academics are going, I am doing pretty well. I am approaching
another hell week of tests every day, but I feel very prepared for them now
that I know how the tests are structured. My ATC classes are getting a lot
more interesting too. We are finally going over stuff that we will
definitely use every day in our controlling careers. This past Thursday I
went to an ATC club meeting where the supervisor of Daytona Beach Intl
Control Tower gave us a great lecture on the career as well as his own
personal experiences. A lot of people showed up and the topics/ questions
were very good. It made me proud to be an Embry-Riddle student.
One major
point I have to say for all you interested in becoming a controller is don't
just do it for the money because the job will defeat you if your heart isn't
in it. Also, things are looking very good for the future in ATC. I am so
anxious to graduate ERAU and get called to the FAA academy, but at the same
time I am loving my Fraternity and never want to leave this school.
Many of
you have been e-mailing me questions so keep it up! I enjoy getting back
to you with my own opinions. My e-mail for those of you who
don't know, beim582@erau.edu .
Well, I got to go so that is it for this entry. Do good in school and
for all of you future FAA controllers out there, STAY OUT OF TROUBLE and
good luck!
October 6, 2005
Hello again everybody.
Since last time, it has been amazingly busy here in
Daytona Beach. Now that I am into my fourth week of classes, I can
accurately say I have a pretty good routine going. The work load is
definitely starting to pick up and is becoming a lot more challenging, but
nothing overwhelming.
I am taking two air traffic classes and I absolutely
love them. They are very interesting and I enjoy going to them every day.
In my one class, we just learned all about the history of ATC
and now we are starting on the ATC system as a whole. In the
other, we finished the teamwork, documents, and communications section
and are just starting the aircraft identification section. Each of these
classes is structured around the FAA's demands. Everything we learn will
most likely be seen again if we get accepted to the FAA training academy
in Oklahoma City.
I am also taking a meteorology class and a human factors
class. My meteorology professor is actually the weatherman
for central Florida's Channel 13 news station. It is kind of strange to
see him in the classroom, and then 4 hours later on my TV, but the class
is very interesting. This past week, I had been bombarded with tests,
just about every day of the week I had a test in each one of my classes,
a lot of studying and work, but I pulled through..
So that is how my academic life is going. Now on to my social life.
Embry-Riddle has so many clubs and organizations to pick from! About
two weeks back I ended up joining the scuba diving club and the surf club
when they held the activities fair. There are hundreds of activities to
choose from, whatever interests you they probably have here.
The University
also held a Greek night where you go around to the Fraternities/Sororities
table and decide which one you like enough to rush and possibly
join. In my personal opinion, Sigma Pi here at Embry-Riddle has
the most to offer and is probably the best Fraternity on campus.
After going around and seeing/ hearing what all the others had to offer,
nothing could compare to Sigma Pi, I had to rush them.
Rush week is when
all of the interested students hang out with the Brother's
and decide if they like the organization enough and want to pledge. It
also gives the Brothers a chance to determine if they like you enough
and think you are worthy of pledging their organization. At the end of
rush week, if everything worked out, they give you a bid and invite you
to pledge the Fraternity. I was lucky enough to get a bid from Sigma Pi
and of course I accepted it. So now I am a pledge and have to go through
the new member education process.
My pledge brothers are really cool and
I enjoy hanging out with them, so things aren't too bad yet.
This past week they assigned me to my 'Big Brother,' Chad. He is like
a mentor to me and will help guide me through my pledging process. Every
day I am developing more and more respect towards the Brothers. They are
all really cool and know how to have a good time. Yesterday we cleaned
up Clyde Morris, the highway in front of the University. Sigma Pi actually
adopted that entire road. It was so hot out, but the Brothers made it
into a fun time. Out of all the Fraternities on campus, Sigma Pi by far
is the best one in my opinion.
On another note, I am really glad I chose to live off campus since I
was eligible because I am a transfer student. I have a huge apartment,
my own bathroom, and no RA looking after my every move. On the
other hand I have to drive to class every day, make my own meals,
and most of the friends I met live on campus, so I'm kind of
out of the loop. Either way you look at it, there are definitely
pros and cons with off-campus living.
In these upcoming weeks, there is going to be a lot to look forward
to in the Daytona Beach area and also the University. Homecoming
is coming up and from what I hear; things get crazy on campus during it.
Also, Biketober Fest is just around the corner. It is when bikers from
all around the country come to Daytona to show off their stuff, sell things,
and party. It should be interesting once they all come. People say that
the area gets so loud and the roadways get clogged with motorcycles. I
am looking forward to
Sky Fest most of all for the upcoming
month. It is a huge air show over the airport with all kinds of stunt pilots
and vendors from every where all relating to aviation, it definitely sounds like
fun.
To wrap things up, I am really enjoying it here, from the new friends to
the new experiences, everything is going really well for me. If any of you
ever have any questions regarding academics or the social scene here, email
me at beim582@erau.edu. It would probably be best though if you continue to
ask me questions through the discussion board. If you see me on campus, let
me know if you read my entries. Until next time, do good in school and stay
out of trouble.
September 22, 2005
Hello everybody! To introduce myself, my name is Jason and I am 20 years
old. I am from a small town in central New Jersey called North Plainfield,
lived there all my life and I always have a good time when I go home to
visit. I am a transfer student to Embry-Riddle from a school in Pennsylvania.
I should be a junior but through loss of transfer credits I will have
a sophomore status here. I live off campus with a pretty cool roommate.
To get a little more personal, some of the things I am already involved
with are my airframe and power-plant mechanics' license, private pilot
license, emergency medical technician certification, and I am scuba certified.
I pretty much love the beach.
I am in the Air Traffic Management program here at Embry-Riddle and was lucky enough to get directly into my program classes for my 1st semester here. I am absolutely passionate about air traffic and I don't think there is anything different I would want to study.
This past summer, I was privileged enough to get an internship with the
Federal Aviation Administration in the north-eastern region.
I interned at Newark Liberty International Airport Air Traffic
Control Tower and after the 1st week there, I fell in love with the entire
ATC operation. The tower is practically brand new and extends up to 24
stories high, great view of NYC skyline, let alone almost every square
inch of the airport. The thing that really made my internship so special
was the controllers running the Newark airport operation. Everyone was
just so personal and supportive to me I could not have asked for a better
group of people to work with, especially Larry and Monica, the two people
who really took me under their wing and showed me the ins and outs of
air traffic. I even got to meet Embry-Riddle's Alumni hero Scott
Dittamo,
the controller who saved the Air India 747 from crashing without
its landing gear down. What a great group of people running Newark
ATC, I can't thank them enough.
So that's what I have been doing this summer, and now I am living it
up in Daytona Beach! ERAU is just so nice and I noticed most
of the students here are mostly clean cut and easy to get along
with, almost everyone shares the aviation bond. The beaches here
are awesome as well, I never realized you can actually drive
your car right on them and get out and go swimming. I've got
to remember though; I am here to learn and to succeed so I can
stay longer! I don't think that will be a problem considering I love my
classes, but it will be a distraction. Commitment is my 1st priority here
and is the best tool I have to help me get closer to my dream of being
an air traffic controller. Anyway, so far I am loving my transfer down
here to Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach campus. If any of you journal readers
see me on campus, let me know if you read my entries, I do care. Until
next time, everyone do well in school, good luck, and stay out of trouble.
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Name: Jason 