Learning to Cook

 

So this summer I made the decision to stay on campus and take summer courses, the most important summer course I am currently taking is one I will most likely use for the rest of my life….cooking…

Herb Chicken and Cheese Tortellini

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I never considered myself to be a good cook or to really enjoy cooking but, since I have taken up the pursuit of cooking (mostly so i wouldn’t have to pay for a summer meal plan) and also because I would like to cook whatever sounds good to me that day.

Some simple tips that I can give you are buy meats in bulk, separate them into portion sizes and freeze them. When you want meat just pull out however many portions you want and cook it. Buy your vegetables and fruits and Fry’s, they are a few cents more but, way better than the fruit and veggies at Walmart. Canned foods, dry pasta, and top raman are cheap!!!! These are great because you can mix them with cooked meat, pasta sauces, or veggies and have a tasty balanced meal. Do not waste all your money on fast food, you can pay about $3 a meal if you make it yourself instead of $10-$15 a meal if you eat out, this can drain your paycheck really really fast!!!

Red Velvet Cake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are so many other tips I can give you, but so little space to write in so the best and very last tip I can offer (unless you comment with a question or helpful tip) is GO ASK YOUR MOMMA!!!…….or you auntie, or someone who can cook…..Google works too 😉

Night Running

Recently as a result of the heat (about 90+ but no more than 98 F) I’ve taken to running on the school’s track at night and boy is it gorgeous!!! As I run I get to watch the sun go down and the breeze on the track, which is a rubberized running surface with a field at its center, is really cool and pleasant.Which brings me to the reason for my blog!! 😀

A portion of the track behind our the Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach Chris Bray

The track can be used by all members of the campus community, for whatever your purpose is, recently a new athletic sport on campus has began using the track as they are starting up Women’s and Men’s Cross Country teams in the Fall of 2013. If you  are interested in perhaps being recruited by one of our athletic teams I encourage you to check out our Athletics website where you will find a list of teams and information on how you can get started as an athlete at Embry Riddle. A visitor’s guide to Embry Riddle is also available for you to view if you are interested in coming to the University for a tour of our campus and meeting with a coach.

So whether you are extremely athletic or fi you just like to run for fun, feel free to join us and check out our athletic teams, we would love to have you here as an Embry Riddle Prescott Eagle!!

Military Influence at Embry Riddle

Embry Riddle’s Flight line in Prescott AZ

So today, when I was out giving tours one of our potential students expressed a concern that they were not entirely comfortable with living on a campus that had a large military affiliation. When I looked more into the topic after our discussion of the campus’s military affiliation, I discovered that some people who are interested in attending Embry Riddle think that is a Military Academy.

I would like to dispel that thought as much as possible, Embry Riddle does have military ties as a result of the two ROTC detachments on campus and also because many veterans choose to attend school here. However, we are very very very far from being any sort of a military academy, even though we do have a military affiliation we do not try to force students to join any ROTC or other type of military service. Our ROTC cadets and veterans live among the other students, we are college students as well and we are happy to get to know you, no matter what your chosen pursuit is.

You will not feel any pressure or discrimination from anyone on campus, we are a diverse campus and we are always ready to accept new students and get to know them, their dreams, pursuits, and their personalities. 😀 Some of our students come from places all over the world, such as China, the Middle East, and Europe. We know that everyone has a different background and different goals for their lives because of their previous experiences. It is our goal as a campus to promote a feeling of community among our students so that no one will ever feel like they do not belong at Embry Riddle.

When considering colleges to attend please think of Embry Riddle firstly as another college, look into the various majors we offer and if one interests you please apply, we would love to welcome you to the Embry Riddle family. And again, it is true there is a military presence on this campus but, the cadets and veterans are only your fellow students, we do not want to pressure you or make you feel uncomfortable should you consider attending Embry Riddle. We will welcome you just like any other student and we look forward to potentially meeting you in the future!!

Temple Run….Don’t play it!!!!!!

 

So I’m sure you have noticed the unusual title of this blog, it is because I must warn you not to play temple run!!! It is sooo addicting and soon you will find yourself playing it in class, at work, in your dorm room, etc etc etc. Then the game will sometimes delete your progress so that you have to start all over again… 🙁 NOT FUN!!

My lesson with Temple Run is actually one that applies to all college students….DO NOT get addicted to a game. Sure, games are fun and relaxing at times however, if you come to enjoy them to much they can damage your ability to pay attention in class and to succeed in school.

 

There are so many studies out there about game addictions, I encourage you to look some up on Google and most of all don’t be that kid (we have all see one, ewwww) who comes to class with terrible personal hygiene because they spent all their time in the last few days playing some video or computer game.

 

Phone games, thankfully don’t have repercussions as bad as the one I mentioned above but, they can still hurt you by being a distraction in class, so again take my advice and DON’T DO IT!!!

 

 

 

Student Life

When you are choosing colleges or Universities that you might want to attend how much do you think about the student life? Well, most students say that it is one of the most important aspects of their decision and because it is so important wouldn’t it be nice if a current student told you what it was like? Well your wish has been granted!!!

I’m Cherie Gambino, an Engineering student at Embry-Riddle Prescott campus  🙂 In my year or so on campus I have greatly enjoyed my experiences here, from watching movies in the amphitheater to laughing at comedians we have it all. Embry Riddle really tries to focus on the student and what is important to them so we have several campus organizations that operate to enhance your experiences at Riddle. These are Student government, the Board of Campus Activities, Greek Life, the Residence Halls Association, Horizons Newspaper, Riddle Vision, and Riddle Radio. In the fall there are also special programs for incoming freshman such as the Passport Program which hosts all kinds of fun  barbecues, competitions, and movie nights.

Orientation Day 1

 

The campus organizations that organize these activities are active year round so there is at least 2 or 3 events occurring during the week. For example, last week there was a pizza party at the pool, a memorial day barbecue, and a movie night where myself and a few other students got to go see the new Star Trek movie at the Harkins theater.

Some of our other cool events and organizations are listed below, feel free to check them out and get to know the fun side of Embry-Riddle 🙂

October West

Passport to ERAU

Passport Program Events

Organizations

Local Events in Prescott

Campus Tours

 

For prospective students many colleges or Universities will offer a Campus tour so that the student may get a feel for the place that they may be living in for the next four years. Here on Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus the Admissions office staff and student employees (like me!!) work really hard to be sure that if you choose to tour our beautiful campus, that you have an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

 

Prescott Aerial View of Campus

When you first arrive on campus you will meet up with your tour guide in the Welcome center, which is building 41. It is pretty simple to find, just enter campus through the entrance with the electronic signboard and take the second right leaving the roundabout. You will immediately see the Welcome Center.

 

Once you are inside there may be a small wait and then you will be off on your tour to see the Freshman dorms, Dining hall, Wellness Center, King Engineering, Academic Complex, Laboratories in the AXFAB (Aerospace Experimentation and Fabrication Building), Wind Tunnel Labs, Jet Dragster Lab, Central Campus, Student Facilities, and the Hazy Library. If you are interested in doing Air Force or Army ROTC at Embry-Riddle then you will also be offered the opportunity to meet with representatives of one or both of the detachments on campus.for Aeronautical Science majors a tour of the Prescott campus’s flight line is also offered and can be taken in addition to the campus tour.

Campus Map

After your tour is complete you then have the opportunity to meet with your admissions counselor in order to cover any admissions questions you have about attending the University. Admissions counselors are located inside the Welcome Center as well as the offices of Financial Aid and Student employment so if you would like you may also look into discussing options for aid or employment with these offices after you have met with your counselor.

It may be a long and eventful day but, I can guarantee that this campus with fascinate you and that your visitor’s experience here at Embry Riddle Prescott has the potential to turn into a really fun and rewarding four years in pursuit of one of our unique majors.

Cockpit in Flight

If you would like to join us here for a day please visit our website and sign up for a campus tour. If you are unable to be here in person then I encourage you to take a virtual tour. Additional information on the campus can be found here. However way you visit we look forward to showing you our campus!!

 

ROTC Scholarships and Programs

 

Hello again, I am sure many students at one point or another have considered entering a branch of the military in order to help pay for educational costs. Reserve Officer Training Corps is certainly an excellent way to gain a degree and a career as an officer in a branch of the military services. ROTC is available on most campuses nationwide, not every campus will have every branch so you must choose a University depending on the branch you would like to enter.

Embry Riddle has two full ROTC detachments as well asan additional training program. These are Air Force ROTC, Army ROTC, and the Marine training called Platoon Leaders. Each of these programs can prepare you to follow a career in a military service and get you financial aid that will help you earn a degree. As some of our readers might know I am a sophomore cadet in the Air Force ROTC program.

Air Force ROTC

Competition for scholarships in Air Force ROTC can be difficult as a scholarship requires a good Physical Fitness score, a positive medical evaluation, a demonstration of leadership abilities through extracurricular activities and positions as well as letters of recommendation and at least a 3.0 GPA in high school. Other tests such as the SAT, ACT, AFOQT (Air Force Officer Qualifying Test) are taken into account when a student is being considered for a scholarship.

Army ROTC

There are two scholarships available, each can vary in type and the amount awarded.

The first one is the in high school scholarship which is awarded to a graduating high school senior who intends to enter ROTC at the University of their chose and the second is an in college scholarship that is awarded to cadets who have continually displayed outstanding performance in their time as a cadet. If you are interested in joining Air Force ROTC straight out of high school I highly recommend applying for the high school scholarship during the fall semester of your Senior year. This is actually how I was awarded my scholarship, it can be a lot of work but, the scholarship is an enormous help if you are attending a four year university.

Platoon Leaders

Whatever you chose to pursue in the future I wish you great luck but, if you are interested in one of the programs I discussed I would be happy to answer any questions you might have, so please comment!

Also check out the Embry Riddle Prescott campus website for more information on each program. Thank you!!!

Freshmen Year in A Bottle

Hey there reader, if you are an incoming freshmen or just curious what college life is about as a freshman, you are in luck. Throughout this blog i will go over the entirety of my freshmen year, tips and more.

So if you do not know so far I am a freshmen currently attending Embry-Riddle in Prescott, Az. I am involved in Air Force ROTC and hope to fly some day soon. First i will go over some FAQ and need to know stuff.

FAQ:

Q: Is college difficult?                                                                                                             A: Yes & no. The biggest thing i see an issue with is time management, revolving your life around classes and study time. The first year is almost always set at a good pace for a freshmen to begin learning and taking on responsibilities, But it is still just as easy to be lazy.

Q: Do you have enough spare time?                                                                                     A: Yes, as a normal college student i have plenty of time, all most too much…that is as a freshmen so far…but I am involved in AFROTC, honor guard and have an on campus job. Yet i still manage to go to the gym and have a life.

Q: Should I worry about an internship as a freshmen?                                                          A: No, about your sophomore/junior year you should look into them.

Q: How is having a roommate?                                                                                             A: Awesome and sometimes irritating. Having a roommate is great, My roommate and I are now pretty close friends. But i have to say, after a whole year you really start to appreciate having a room to yourself.

Q: What Should I Bring to college?                                                                                        A: Necessities! The biggest pain I have right now is packing to go home because I brought to much stuff that I didn’t use.

I hope those Helped, if you have more feel free to ask.

One thing most people do not realize is the resources they have. Utilize them, things like the main office, admissions office, an RA, neighbors and your professors are there for you.

Now freshmen year was great, i have a lot of great memories from it. From Air Force ROTC events to meeting awesome new people and clubs. I definitely feel like i made the right choice coming to Embry-Riddle Prescott campus to start my career as an engineer, especially with the best Air force Det. in the U.S. I couldn’t have made a better choice.

From the late night study sessions to the late night kick backs, and the early morning PT

sessions to the finals, the years go by pretty quick so hopefully you too can make a good choice and start a great career.

Thanks for reading.

Almost The End

To those of you who would like to know what freshman year is like at Embry-Riddle Prescott, all summed up in a couple paragraphs, well today is your lucky day. It is almost the end of my freshmen year so i will be writing about, the best parts of getting through it, a few tips, and a few of my experiences.

If you have been keeping up with my blogs, I have already talked about the big move away from home. No body really talks about that part, but it can be tough. The best part about being away from home though in a new environment is the freedom that comes with it. It can be a good thing and help you or it could hurt you if you don’t treat it with respect. From my experiences as being a freshmen getting adjusted, keeping yourself busy helps you learn to manage your time wisely and keeps you on the right track to success. I have seen great success because if it and tragic failures.

The next big thing that can make a difference your freshmen year, is continuing to do things that you enjoy, keeping you hobbies or developing new ones is a great way to relieve stress from the school work. Yes it does get stressful. There are many clubs at campus, Embry-Riddle makes it easy for students to be involved with the campus. We have clubs that range from, Rock Climbing to Dance and even Martial Arts. If you are in ROTC, you will have plenty of options to get involved, the more you get involved the more friends you will make, it is easy to meet new people especially at Embry-Riddle, most people here staff included are very outgoing and very approachable. In fact one of the great things about the staff here is how approachable they are. some teachers even host events such as taking a group of people down to phoenix to watch a baseball or hockey game. its a great way to get to know the professors and hear some of their great stories or projects they are working on.

The first year is tough but some of the best parts about getting through it are the unexpected. You never know whats coming around the corner but that is the best part. You will meet a lot of great new people that have common interests and degrees. You will have great memories and a lot of laughs, but knowing you finished your freshmen year successfully is a great accomplishment and great way to start your career.

In this blog i went over a good way to deal with your free time, and a great way to keep yourself on the right track to success. I gave you a few personal insights, and a good way to get involved on campus.

Thank you for reading, I hope this was informative. If there is anything else you would like to know specifically. Feel free to let me know.

Away From Home

Hello there followers, i am writing this blog today to give more of an insight to those incoming freshman that are looking forward to college but don’t really know what to think about the move away from home. As i am a current freshman at Embry-Riddle, Prescott campus i have a few tips and insights for you. The main things i felt that should be addressed is dealing with the freedom you gain,getting over home sickness and getting help when you need it.

As you may have heard, Freshman year is said to be the toughest by many people. It is tough, not because of the work load but because you do not know what to expect and your away from home, the normal life.  The biggest problem i faced first semester was the freedom, you have to be able to handle it and keep yourself in line because there is no one here to do that for you. No parents, a car, money and no curfew really determines weather you can handle it or not in just a couple of months. so keep yourself busy, join clubs, sports, go to the gym, watch movies, and do some volunteer work.

The next thing you will most likely face is being home sick, and the emotional side of making a big change in your life. It will happen unless of course you live down the road but yes. The thing i miss most was home cooked food, and just the presence of your family. The best way i have found to coup with that is to use your cell phone! just by calling home. And if you need advice your parents most likely have a good answer.But keep in contact and stay busy, do things that relax you and get your mind off things, because although school is very important staying pleasantly happy will affect your grades.

Last but not least, getting help when you need it. As a freshman you will most likely need the tutoring,insight of a senior or help from a teacher to get through. I felt weird having to go to tutoring because i have never needed it before but it was the best thing for me next to using the instructors office hours. Especially the free tutoring on campus, and the instructors office hours. Going to your instructor could be the best thing if you are struggling in class or want to get ahead, they are there and they, they are very approachable ,especially at Embry-Riddle, and they are helpful. So do not be afraid to get the help when you need it, the earlier the better.

Well thank you for reading, i hope i have been informative and helpful. If you have any further questions or would like me to go in depth about some things let me know.

Thank you.