My name is Katie Radder, and I am an Aerospace Engineering major. This is my second year attending UCF. I graduated from First Christian Academy in 2024 in High Springs, Florida. My favorite class at UCF so far is probably the Intro to Engineering course. You get to learn a little bit about a lot of different engineering fields and get introduced to skills you will use in your academic career at UCF. My favorite professor is Mrs. Sullivan, who teaches the Intro to Engineering class. She is incredibly welcoming and tries to get all of her students involved in something on campus. I learned a lot about engineering in her class, and she made me feel more confident in my major. I got involved with GEMS because it’s an amazing place to get involved in STEM activities and feel like a part of the community. Starting college in a difficult field can be incredibly overwhelming, but GEMS makes it a little easier to see the path in front of you and get you connected with people who have the same goals as you. I would advise freshmen in GEMS to really try to connect with the people you meet through these programs.  In my free time, I love to read, bake, be outside, and hang out with friends.