Hey all! My name is Sasha and I am a sophomore majoring in Environmental Engineering and minoring in Math here at UCF. I am originally from Russia and I moved straight to Orlando when I was 16 and graduated from Freedom High school. I am very excited to be GEMS mentor and help new coming freshman students in transitioning into their college life. I remember myself just a year ago, when I was a freshman myself and I am glad that I was a part of EXCEL and GEMS programs which played a very big role in my way towards success. My GEMS mentor helped me a lot through my first year by introducing me to the EXCEL community, encouraging me to pursue my academic and personal goals, and inspiring me to be involved in things on campus. I am looking forward to doing the same things for my mentees and help them as they need me during their first year at UCF. Currently I am involved in several organizations on campus, such as Global Engineering Brigades, Knights for Animal Rights and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club. Each of them provided me with lots of valuable experience. For example, after my first Spring semester I went to Honduras with Global Engineering Brigades to learn how to design water pipelines, which brought fresh and clean water to the local community. I am looking forward to the beginning of the new academic year to meet new members of the EXCEL family