I’m a freshman studying Computer Science with a focus in Cybersecurity at Arizona State University (ASU). I hope to also further my education by obtaining my master’s degree at ASU through their 4+1 Program. Throughout my academic journey, I’ve always been the student to enroll in rigorous honors, dual enrollment, and AP courses before I started college. By the time I graduated high school, I was ranked 11th out of 271 students and had a 4.47 GPA. Choosing to study Computer Science felt natural for me. From a young age, I was an avid video gamer who would spend hours in a room playing in a virtual world. I would tend to help my parents and younger sister with technical issues with their computers that I thought were easy to understand. As I grew older, I explored programming languages such as Java and created simple lines of code and games for fun. Additionally, my interest in Cybersecurity started when I became aware about the importance of protecting privacy online. With technology continuing to evolve, Cybersecurity professionals are desperately needed for work such as privacy protection, ethical hacking, and cyberattack prevention. I hope to master coding languages, obtain certifications, and gain hands-on experience during my time at ASU so I'm prepared for real-world problems in the future. However, becoming the first in my family to study into a STEM field has not been without its challenges. One of the biggest issues is the lack of female and Native American representation in Computer Science. Being one of the very few students that are underrepresented in my STEM courses was disappointing, but it’s just another reason to stay motivated and determined. In my personal life, being diagnosed with Hirayama Disease - also known as monomelic amyotrophy - in my right hand and arm was a curveball for me. The constant stinging feeling in my arm, my hand locking up in uncomfortable positions at school, and frequently dropping items on the floor are just some of the many ways the rare disease has affected my daily life. The worst (and annoying) part is my inability to control it. To treat my disease, I underwent a major surgical procedure last year involving a spinal fusion in my neck. My neck was left scarred, and I needed hand therapy to strengthen my muscles again. Despite these challenges, my freshman year at ASU is successful so far. I was accepted into the Fulton Accelerated Community Engagement (FACE) Program and Phi Sigma Rho. Participating in FACE has helped me build my leadership skills while working on an engineering project with other STEM freshmen. This experience has been great for applying what I’ve learned in previous and current courses to real-world problems and for making connections with my classmates. Phi Sigma Rho is a social sorority for engineering and engineering technologies where I’ve met like-minded individuals who care about academics and giving back to the community. Being involved in the sorority has allowed me to form friendships that will last a lifetime and has opened up new opportunities for leadership and career growth, such as attending workshops and networking events in and outside of ASU. One of my favorite events was participating in a Narcan packing event from Sonoran Prevention Works with ASU’s Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. Overall, I’m hopeful about the opportunities that are coming my way, whether it’s gaining more experience in my field or networking with others who share my passion for technology. I believe that I can inspire other individuals who may be underrepresented, knowing that any opportunity can make a difference in the world.