Alijah McDonald
“Leadership has lots of distinct definitions, but to me it suggests constructing a little something that added benefits on your own and the men and women all around you,” explained Alijah McDonald, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical College Aerospace Engineering senior and Boeing Scholar.

DAYTONA Beach, Fla. (PRWEB)
August 24, 2022
With two internships beneath his belt and a Boeing Scholarship to his identify, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical College Aerospace Engineering senior Alijah McDonald is closer now than ever right before to reaching his dream of performing in the aerospace industry. He however remembers when he commenced his college or university profession, nevertheless, and the nerves he felt in his first days. At that time, the highway in advance felt very long and unsure, and he craved clarity.
In that spirit, McDonald supplied advice to incoming school students, in the hopes of encouraging them keep centered and inspired as they pursue their own own paths towards their desires.
Idea No. 1: Remember Why You’re Here
McDonald grew up likely to airshows, planetariums and robotics competitions, so he was thrilled to examine aerospace engineering in university. Changing to a new surroundings and far more rigorous classes, even so, can be an adjustment for new learners, he stated.
Persistence is the vital.
“Sometimes you never get it on the 1st check out,” explained the Tiny River, South Carolina native. “You have to perform for it. Remember why you are right here and retain going.”
Just one matter that served him manage concentration when he felt stressed, he additional, was a trip his freshman year to Kennedy Space Heart to see the car or truck assembly building and tour the Boeing facility. It reminded him of his love of area and why he wished to do the job in the subject.
This previous April, McDonald also was decided on to interview entrepreneur and Polaris Dawn Commander Jared Isaacman (’11), the Embry-Riddle alumnus who led the first-at any time all-civilian room mission. Isaacman frequented Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach front Campus to talk about his room flight and about how industrial area missions can assistance produce a greater earth throughout Aviation 7 days 2022.
“Being reminded why you are below can help you stay concentrated via demanding situations,” McDonald explained.
Idea No. 2: Emphasis on Your Exceptional Strengths, Then Use Them to Add
When McDonald first received interested in flight, he determined to focus on the positives: what he excelled at and could carry to the aerospace sector.
“I have moderate to extreme listening to decline, and I have on listening to aids in both equally ears, so I know there may perhaps be specified limits on what I can do,” he said. “I may possibly not be capable to be an astronaut or pilot, for the reason that you have to satisfy selected health care prerequisites.”
On his significant university robotics crew, on the other hand, he stood out as a person of the several members who was highly qualified in programming and electronics. When he came to Embry-Riddle, he was capable to bring people same technical strengths to the campus corporations he joined, such as the Embry-Riddle Long term Space Explorers and Builders Culture.
“Leadership has a lot of unique definitions, but to me it signifies making something that rewards on your own and the people today close to you,” he explained.
When McDonald joined the upcoming house explorers as a freshman, he identified the club lacked customers with an experience in electronics. So, he helped start out an electronics expert group inside of the business that labored on avionics, payloads and flight laptop or computer enhancement. This target on integrating technologies into flight automobiles changed the club a great deal, as nicely as Alijah’s trajectory through the aerospace business.
“We now see learners from majors we experienced by no means found in the previous. (The experts) act as a stepping stone for new members to appear in and understand about electronics and computer software and its important part in the aerospace industry,” he stated.
Suggestion No. 3: Get Hands-On Working experience Outdoors of the Classroom — A Whole lot of It
For McDonald, Embry-Riddle’s Rocket Laboratory turned his refuge when not in course or researching.
“The rocket lab has specified a good deal of persons a residence and a relatives to perform with,” he stated. “Everybody in that lab is passionate about house flight. I feel it is a wonderful spot for individuals to occur in and get task encounter.”
Throughout the summer months, McDonald sought internships to master a lot more about the aerospace business, benefitting from the university’s intensive community of world wide aerospace providers.
Previous summer season, he was a controls engineering intern with Rolls-Royce, for example, doing work on gasoline turbine motor computer software controls in Indianapolis, Indiana. This previous summer time, he was a assistance and controls engineering intern with The Boeing Business in St. Charles, Missouri.
McDonald claimed his intention when he chose Embry-Riddle was to increase not only as an engineer, but also as an unique, who can make an effect. Hunting again, he mentioned he picked the proper position.
“The activities I have had at Embry-Riddle, the lifelong friendships I’ve built and the classes I’ve uncovered are all worthy of it,” he mentioned.
Media Call:
Melanie Azam, Senior Author, Embry-Riddle, (386) 323-5092 / [email protected]
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