As a freshman, my winter break was a new experience. With no AP homework to do, I spent most of break hanging out with friends and family. Something about not having to wake up for class makes me feel good.

The best part of break, in my opinion, was being able to spend time with my family. On my second to last day, we went over the the Encounter restaurant at LAX.

Delicious food with a view that started to get me back in the mindset of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. On the 10th, I flew back and when I got back, I dropped my bags off and then went to get supplies.

Today, I got the textbooks for my new classes which can only mean that classes start tomorrow! I am getting back into the routine of things and starting to get ready for flight. However, I have realized that it is good to review flight notes and checklists. I will admit that over break, I became a little rusty.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is very professional in flight, meaning that you should be ready and prepared for all activities. Therefore, I am studying and reviewing a lot of my flight notes to make sure I am good for my activity tomorrow.

I am excited for the new semester and I look forward to my new professors! Now that I have a semester under my belt, I can make this semester at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University even better!

Hello! My name is Jason Kopczynski and I am currently a freshman here at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

I am an Aeronautical Science major and I love every bit that this major gives me! Unless you don’t like flying, what is better than being able to fly multiple times a week? Nothing makes the week better than a good flight. As the semester is coming to a close and I am studying for finals, I am going to recap the semester, in terms of my classes.

First Introduction to Careers in Aviation. Not really what it sounds like in the title, this class was more of a freshman transition from high school to college. It was really helpful and my professor was awesome! He always started class with an interesting or cool video on planes or aviation; including this funny one about a JFK ground controller having a rough day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUWyR9rTI9E.

Next, COM 122; my English class challenged me to become a better writer and changed the way I write, which was different from how I wrote in high school.

After English was Calculus. My professor made this class easy to understand and really (literally) made math fun!

Second to last is Private Pilot Ground School. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has the best professors out of any college, as evidenced by having Flight Instructors teach ground school. My professor/instructor for ground school made the class way better by adding personal stories about his flight experiences, including his closest encounter to death while flying (made for a real interesting story, creepy, but now I know what to do if one flap breaks on final!) He always seemed to have something fail or go wrong when he was flying, but always used his training to make a safe landing.

Lastly, there is my flight course (actual flight training at the flight line). My Instructor and I got along real well (good thing) which made learning things a bit easier and non-stressful. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, again, has some of the best flight instructors (former ERAU students) and I got one of them!

In conclusion, my first semester of college has been one of the greatest experiences of my student career ever!