My name is Mariana Sorroza and I am double majoring in mechanical engineering and international and global studies. I have a leadership studies minor and am pursuing a math minor and a teaching English as a foreign language certificate. This will be my fourth year at UCF, as I took a gap year after graduating from Atlantic Technical High School in 2020. My favorite engineering class has been Statics because it is the first official engineering class at UCF and I enjoyed it.I have also enjoyed taking Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer with Dr. Tian Tian because she teaches well, and her classes are structured well.

I decided to get involved in WiSTEM because I care about helping other women in STEM smoothly transition to postsecondary education. I was once a new student in an engineering major at UCF and empathize with the challenges that can come with that. I valued having a mentor during my first year at UCF and hope to give back by now being the “someone” that others lean on, rely on, and confide in. I want women in STEM to know that we belong in STEM, that we have earned our seat at the table, and that we are more than capable of accomplishing our goals.

My advice to freshmen is to learn all you can, have fun enjoying all UCF offers, and contribute in ways that you can while at UCF… learn, enjoy, and contribute! Know that you have a support system with us and beyond, and if you ever feel alone try to remember that you are not alone. And, remember to be grateful, as I believe gratitude and framing our mind in terms of “I am grateful that I GET to be here,” is so important. We see you, we hear you, and we understand you. To conclude sharing a little bit about myself, I will share some of my hobbies… spending time with my family and friends, enjoying time in worship and prayer to God, visiting new places, jogging, and playing soccer.