Hello! My name is Mary Elizabeth Harden and I am an Aerospace Engineering Major entering my second year at UCF. I graduated from Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, FL. My favorite classes at UCF have been the engineering lab classes because they are fun and involve hands-on projects and give us a great introduction to basic engineering skills. My favorite professor has been Professor Lori Dunlop-Pyle for Calculus II because she genuinely loves math and does an amazing job of breaking down complicated concepts in a way that makes them easy to understand. I decided to get involved with the EXCEL and GEMS program because I wanted to build a strong community while pursuing a challenging STEM major. Aerospace engineering can be difficult, so it’s encouraging to be surrounded by people who share similar goals and support each other through the process. I hope to gain mentorship, friendships, and opportunities while also helping mentees feel supported during their time in the program. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time side-questing with my roommate who I met through the EXCEL LLC. I’m involved in a couple of clubs on campus, I like playing pickup soccer at the UCF outdoor fields during the week, and I also work as an indoor referee for younger kids. My advice for incoming EXCEL students is to have fun, figure out what you want, and stay consistent working towards it because your commitment lies where your consistency lies.