midterms | My Life @ Riddle

As a college student the one thing that everyone anxiously awaits yet doesn’t come around very often is the famous three-day weekend.

Three-Day weekends are a great way for all of us at Riddle to stop and take a deep breath just before things get hectic — the lead up to Midterms. It’s a chance for us to get out and explore and check out more of what the West Coast has to offer. Now for those like me who grew up in a whole other region of the United States (the South in my case) everything on the West Coast fascinates me even after 3 years of living here. It’s absolutely gorgeous and very diverse.

San Diego, CA

My friend and I decided to hop in my car and drive about 6 hours West to the beautiful city of San Diego to soak up some much needed sun and escape the winter temperatures in Prescott in exchange for 80-degree heat. Maybe it’s the winter blues but I had been craving the sight of the beach for months and could no longer resist the urge to jump into some nice cool ocean water under some very warm and inviting sun rays. This weekend was perfect for that!

One of the main reasons why I chose to attend the Embry-Riddle Prescott campus over the Daytona Beach campus was because of the campus’ prime location. There are so many incredible opportunities to visit some impeccable places that are perfect when you just need a break from reality.

I was able to fulfill some of my childhood desires on this three-day weekend trip like swimming in the Pacific Ocean for the first time in my life and snorkeling in Mission Bay, well attempted snorkeling until my fear of being in cloudy water started to kick in. I also found a new hobby — paddle boarding!

Before I headed off to college I would’ve never expected that I would experience so many amazing things in my life and accomplish so much at such a young age. This weekend’s trip made it evident to me that I have so many things to be so grateful for and I don’t believe any of this would have been possible if it weren’t for me choosing to study at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and meeting some of the most incredible people I’m so thankful to call my family.

You’ve been here now for about 2 months; I know it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long, time flies here, no pun intended. You’re slowly beginning to get into the swing of things. See it wasn’t so hard. Midterms are finally over. This is also a time where you are left with a little bit more free time than before and your mind has time to wonder and think of home.

You start to realize that those phone calls and Face time sessions are no longer enough. This is when that thing, that one thing no student wants to admit they have caught, homesickness, shows up. As a freshman it’s hard to admit. No one wants to admit that they are missing home, especially to their parents because you know there just going to tell you “I told you so.”

As a freshman it’s normal for you to begin to miss home around this time in the semester. Looking back now at my freshman year I remember this moment very vividly. It was hard. Being from New Orleans, LA there are a great deal of things we do that are a part of our unique culture that many other places don’t do and even think we’re crazy for doing. Small things like getting excited for Christmas in the Oaks in City Park, trying to get your last fix of snowballs before it starts getting too cold to want to eat one, attending the Saints games now that football season is beginning to get a little bit more interesting, trying to get that last batch of crawfish from the Seafood Pot before the season officially ends and just hanging with my family and friends when I need someone who understands all of my weirdness.

Making snow angels in downtown Prescott.

Crawfish, Corn, and Cajun Potatoes!

It’s hard because you just arrived here a few months ago and Arizona isn’t quite home yet. I know, you can’t even imagine calling Arizona home, but trust me you will. It happens to all of us after Christmas break when we realize just how amazing this state is along with not knowing how we were ever able to live life without the friends we’ve met here at Riddle this semester. Just hang on, don’t let the stress of being homesick take over your mind by swallowing your thoughts and making it difficult to stay focused. Continue to stay busy. Hang out with your “crew” continuing to create incredible memories. Oh and if midterms got the best of you don’t let it discourage you. This is your first introduction to the format of college exams. Take it as a learning experience and build from it. We all do bad on at least one exam, it happens. Keep pushing through, the semester will be wrapping up in a blink of an eye and before you know it you’ll be back home with your family and friends enjoying all that the holidays have to offer and before you have the chance to notice, you’ll be wishing you were back at Riddle with the second family you’ve had the opportunity to build so far. This is just the beginning of your journey the rest is still unwritten.

Pi Kappa Phi and Alpha Xi Delta Formal.

Tag Archives: midterms

Three-Day Weekend Trip to San Diego!

Two months in — It’s OK to be slightly homesick