FLORIDA CAMPUS
The functions of life support equipment on board the ISS include monitoring atmospheric pressure, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, waste management and water supply, as well as fire detection and suppression. Continued development of these systems is critical for any future long-duration spaceflights.
Community Through Shared Interests Aerospace Engineering senior Elena Djudaric (’23) has been active in the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), First-Generation Students Association and the Embry-Riddle Pep Band since her freshman year. Looking for a club that would help with professional development, she found SWE, where she holds the position of Professional Engagement Chair. Her favorite on-campus SWE event is the annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Workshop. Djudaric is President of the First-Generation Students Association. The close-knit group focuses on “creating a fun, inclusive community of other first-gen students while providing useful resources,” including professional development workshops. As a drummer with the Pep Band, she says that the group “has been an excellent source of stress relief.” She loves the high energy of playing music at our Eagles’ basketball games. These clubs have made my college experience significantly better. I found like-minded people and felt a strong sense of community and passion toward shared interests. I cannot express how important it is to get involved on campus.”
ISABELLA NOVO IS SURE TO SHINE AT NASA
conference. Novo left the convention with six job offers, all from top organizations. From NASA, she got something else: an opportunity to fly to Houston for a second interview. After two more “grueling” interviews, NASA offered her the position. Thinking back, Novo said, “When they told me, I was able to sit back and look at all the hardships I went through and overcame and saw this was the fruits of my labor... I think that day I didn’t even do anything crazy. I just… simmered and sat with my emotions. I was just like ‘let me soak up this moment.’” At NASA, Novo will be working on the life support system for the International Space Station. But her final goal is still the same: to become an astronaut. “That’s my long-term goal,” she shared.
Novo’s advice to other college students pertains to confidence, open-mindedness and getting out of your comfort zone. “Do not compare yourself to other people… I found that comparing myself to other people only brought my self-esteem down. I just needed to look inward and think, okay, what can I learn? Not what am I good at. How can I propel myself forward and just throw myself out there?” she said. “Literally throw yourself out there. Join organizations, put yourself in uncomfortable situations, don’t ever cut yourself short… It’s going to look like you hit a rock wall, but there’s always more room, there’s always another corner somewhere else.”
Elena Djudaric ’23 Aerospace Engineering
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