My name is Emily Hopman and I am a Junior majoring in Biomedical Sciences and minoring in Dance. I graduated from Edgewood Jr./Sr. High School in Merritt Island, Florida in 2013. My favorite class so far in college was Quantitative Biological Methods because I got to see how to apply everything I have been learning in my textbooks. I learned how to run the machines and perform the different assays that researchers do in real laboratories. My favorite professor was James Cooney because he made my physics class really fun, while still making sure we understood physics. I chose to become a GEMS mentor because I really appreciated having a mentor while making my transition into college, and I would like to share that experience with the freshman GEMS students. I want to help the new EXCEL students learn to take advantage of all the resources and opportunities that the EXCEL program and UCF has to offer. The first year of college can be very exciting, but it can also be stressful or lonesome. The GEMS program really helps young women in their transition into becoming an independent women in the STEM field. In my spare time, I enjoy dancing, baking cookies, riding my bike, crafting, and trying to make the most out of each day. Figure out how you learn, study hard, and get involved with something that you love to do for fun.