My name is Shadae Page and I am a sophomore majoring in computer science. I aspire to become a software engineer because I am intrigued by software systems and fell in love with coding in high school. The ability to instruct the computer and bring a plan to reality simply amazes me and brings me joy. I am passionate about engineering because it allows me to bring about change and utilize my skills. I grew up in Jamaica where I participated in a Caribbean Girls Hackathon. I enjoyed it because I was surrounded by people with common interests, and I learned valuable information that has motivated me to continue pursuing my passion. I believe the SWE conference will be the same. While I love computer science, most courses are difficult, and it gets lonely when you are one of three females in the classroom. I am looking forward to this conference as I wholeheartedly believe it will motivate me to continue pursuing my passion and the lessons I learn will be with me and guide me. I am also looking forward to the amazing speakers. I believe this conference will positively nurture my growth in this technological field and create networking opportunities that will be valuable in my academic and professional career development. Once-in-a-lifetime experiences like these will make me more marketable as I venture off into becoming one of the best software engineers in the working world. I am grateful for this opportunity and the friends I’ve made thus far! : )