As I pull in some of my archived content and begin building new content, the purpose of this website is to share all things Erin. Personal adventures, professional developments, and continuing education. I am entering a new chapter of my life and look forward to journaling about the adventures ahead. Thanks for coming along for the ride!
A Dolphin in a Woman’s World
From swimmer to triathlete, I now look ahead at how those sports can apply to spaceflight training. One of my goals with this training journal is to spend some time reflecting on where I have come from, where I am now, and establish where I want to go in the future. A little background on my swimming career, how it brought me to triathlon training, and how that relates to civilian spaceflight...
The Silver Bullet
This is a story about my first skydive and how I learned to fly. It was junior year in college. I had just returned to school for the fall semester and found myself with a lot of time. I had recently retired from college swimming and had a giant void to fill. I became a lifeguard, I joined a sorority, and I went white water rafting: None of these felt right. I looked up what it would take to...
Space Psychology: Theory to Practice
As part of my master\’s program, I developed a master\’s level course in space psychology to further my personal development and for the benefit of future graduate students to come. The field of psychology has been an interest of mine for quite some time. Throughout my years working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), I heard rumors of the lack of psychology...
The Overview Effect: Philosophy and Phenomenology
For this past semester, I created a one credit theory course on the overview effect to dive deeper into what it really meant, how someone experiences the phenomenon, and how it can be used to inspire activism. Before I jump into the course content, I should give a little background. Frank White, a space philosopher and author, labeled this phenomenon as the overview effect. In his book The...
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Recertification
In preparation for the Everest Base Camp trek, I signed up for the Wilderness First Responder (WFR) recertification class. In April 2016, I decided I needed to take a few steps towards become who I wanted to be. I have always been drawn to the outdoors and felt it was time for me to step up my First Aid/CPR game to more in-depth rescue techniques. After a little bit of research, I decided on the...
Fitness Journey Adjusted
I recently decided to shift my fitness goals to accommodate personal happiness. In early fall 2017, I registered for a customized spaceflight focused fitness coaching program. It was one of the best and most scientifically backed programs out there, however I realized it was missing one key element I needed; socialization. The program was conducted remotely and that was a new concept for me...
Daily Inspiration
Now, at age 36, I have found myself surrounded (in-person and digitally) by the most inspirational people. So many incredible people pushing their boundaries and doing everything they can to help others along the way. On a daily basis I see one of my friends and family taking calculated risks to achieve greatness. They inspire me constantly and give me the motivation to keep going after my goals...
Inspiration: Amelia Earhart
I want to share how one of my true role models, Amelia Earhart, has inspired me. She was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic ocean. In my eyes, her drive and passion for flight is what made her a true legend. While attempting to fly around the world in her Lockheed Electra 10E she disappeared and was never found again. Ultimately that flight was what took her life by pursuing...
Gratitude
We are who we surround ourselves with. I spent some time yesterday reflecting on where I’ve come from and who has helped me along the way. It is a fun exercise and one I highly recommend. I went down memory lane reminiscing on past jobs and personal adventures. What a ride it has been and I feel like it is just beginning. I had a realization that I can do a better job at thanking those...