Hello, my name is Jade Parker. I am a Civil Engineering major, and this will be my third year at UCF. I am from Melbourne, Florida and I graduated from Bayside High School in May of 2023. My favorite classes were Intro to Engineering and Personal Finance and Investments. Although Intro to Engineering is not directly related to my major, the projects gave me a sneak peek and exposure to the process of an engineering project. It also gave me an opportunity to meet other students pursuing engineering. I took Personal Finance as an elective, but I have always been interested in money and finance. I learned a lot of real-world financial material from this class and have applied that knowledge since then. My favorite professor that I have had is Lori Dunlop-Pyle. You can tell she knows the material inside and out. I had Lori for Mathematics for Calculus and Calculus II.  Mathematics at UCF is more difficult than the past math classes I have taken but Lori takes it step by step. She is clear and concise in the way she explains material and makes sure she gets to know everyone in her class. I decided to join EXCEL because of the benefits it provides, like the EXCEL lab and the advising. I joined GEMS to meet other women in STEM and be able to talk to someone older who has been in my shoes. I decided to become a mentor to give back to the program which I have appreciated my entire time here. I hope to help incoming freshman and ease the transition of getting used to college as much as I can. It is also always important to remember to always believe in yourself and ask questions during your career especially as a woman pursuing STEM. Outside of academics, I like to hang out with friends, go to the gym, travel, cook, and try new food.