Located in the Arizona desert is an unexpected beauty: the little city of Prescott and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Here it seems as though we have it all – brilliant and dedicated students, wonderful staff and faculty, good athletics, a truly convenient and ideal location, and the best views in Prescott – but really, the list goes on. Of all aspects of ERAU, I find that the one that has surprised me the most, and is by far my favorite part about this school, is the endless opportunities and countless resources that are provided to us as students.
In my year of being a student at Embry-Riddle, I have realized that one of the most important things is taking advantage of all of those opportunities given in order to be not only a successful student, but also a successful individual post-graduation. As I have seen so far, these opportunities are so kindly laid out right in front of us. So exactly what kind of opportunities am I speaking of? One such resource is the amazing staff and faculty. Because we attend a smaller university, it is much easier to get to know your professors and other staff on campus. Each person has an amazing and interesting story to tell, and with their stories come great networking connections from all over the aviation industry.
In this industry and especially on this campus, networking is one of the most important things you could ever do. Luckily, we have many networking opportunities. One of the biggest networking events occurs annually in the first week of October, during ERAU’s homecoming weekend, OctoberWest. This event is known as the career fair. Every fall, students dress up in their sharpest business casual outfits, perfect and print out copies of their resume, and have the extraordinary opportunity to talk to recruiters from some of the biggest aviation-related businesses. Many representatives from the airlines (Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, American Airlines, etc.) are in attendance for all those Aeronautical Science and Aeronautics students. The biggest engineering companies (Boeing, Honeywell, Raytheon), and even a recruiter from the FBI comes out to talk to our student body.
Another major resource is the vast amount of clubs and organizations that have been established on campus. There are far over 100 clubs and organizations that range from professional development organizations like the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and Airline Pilot Association (ALPA ACE) to lighter, more fun ones like Music Club, as well as the Blue Eagles Skydiving Team. One of the things I have learned is that in order to be successful in the future, you must begin NOW by learning how to properly balance school, a job, and a social life. Joining these clubs may be a fun and exciting way to pass the time, but they will also look better on a resume and show that you are more than just an intelligent student.
Although I haven’t been here for all that long, I’ve found that all of these opportunities can really make or break our career as a student and a professional. Since the beginning, I have been very involved on campus, joining many clubs (as well as greek life) and attending as many events as I can fit in my schedule. Because of this, I have reached new heights and I only hope that others can and will do the same.
Again, if any of you have questions, needs guidance, or just someone to talk to, I, along with my peers will be here with you along your journey to and at Embry-Riddle. Follow me and check out what is yet to come!
Prescott, the heart of Arizona is truly an amazing and beautiful place
Nature holds its own free shows during monsoon season
Even the surrounding nature can show promise and beauty
We’re also conveniently located a little over an hour away from other areas in Arizona such as Jerome (shown in picture), Flagstaff, Sedona, and Phoenix.
OctoberWest weekend Fall 2014 mini aircraft display. My very first airshow!
Being a part of Alpha Sigma Tau has been a wonderful journey and has provided me with a fun, trustworthy group of girls I know I can always count on.
Sorority Bid Day Party
Being part of AAAE opened my eyes to new opportunities, sparked a love for Aviation Business, and has allowed me to do things I never would have imagined. In this picture, we flew to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for a private tour. As part of the tour, they closed down the center runway and let us walk on it and watch aircraft landing and departing on either side of us!
