My name is Haylee StHilaire and I am second year at UCF majoring in Computer Science. I graduated from School For Advanced Studies-North, which is located in Miami, Florida. One of favorite classes at UCF thus far has been COP2500 which is Concepts in Computer Science. This is one of the very first classes you take as a computer science student where you begin to learn one of the main coding languages- python. Taking that class really lit the fire instead of me and caused me to want to pursue a path in computer science even more. One of my favorite professors at UCF is Lori Dunlop-Pyle. I had her for Calculus II, and the way she taught really allowed me to grasp the main concepts in a simple manner. She broke down hard theorems which made the class easier than what I had made it out to be. I decided to get involved in the Excel and GEMS programs because I wanted to be surrounded by like-minded peers my age. Being in the Excel and GEMS programs have not only helped me academically, but they have also allowed me to meet people I can call my closet friends here at UCF, building my support system. The programs give you access to help from students who were in your position before, showing you that everything is possible. Outside of school, one of my favorite hobbies is to watch movies and go on fun side-quests with my friends whether that be at Wawa or at Disney Springs.  

Words of advice for the GEMS freshman students: When your classes start to feel challenging, remember that nothing worthwhile in life comes easy. Struggle is not a sign of failure; it’s a sign that you’re learning and growing. If everything felt effortless, there would be little reason to be here in the first place.