Hi! My name is Melissa, and I’m currently a Business student at the University of Central Florida. I’m passionate about helping others and love meeting new people from different backgrounds. As an international student, I understand how exciting and sometimes overwhelming it can be to explore a new campus.

Hometown

Guayaquil, Ecuador

Major(s)

Marketing

Clubs, organizations & involvement

ECSA (Ecuadorian Student Association), Cheer try outs

Describe your college experience

My transition to college has been both exciting and rewarding. Moving to the United States as an international student was a big adjustment, but it helped me become more independent, adaptable, and confident. At UCF, I’ve enjoyed meeting people from different cultures, participating in campus activities, and growing both academically and personally.

Tip for future students

The most important thing I would say to them is that everything will be just fine and on the first day of classes remember that everyone is looking for friends just like you and it’s important to find people who will love you for who you are and will treat you the way you deserve to be treated. Also, sometimes it can be overwhelming to be alone and do everything for yourself but don’t forget to enjoy, be respectful and live every minute of your college years.

Favorite class

My favorite class is SPC1603 (Fundamentals for Technical Presentations). This class helped me strengthen my presentation skills and our professor always made sure we knew what we were doing correctly and which areas we had to improve. I really enjoyed choosing my topic in the different types of presentations we had to do, looking for the verified information and doing the slides. Most of my topics were related to my country Ecuador and it was really nice seeing my classmates being truly interested and supportive in my presentations.

Career goals

After graduating from UCF with my Business degree, I hope to build a career in business management or marketing, where I can work with diverse teams and contribute to meaningful projects in a big company. I also want to continue developing my leadership and communication skills through experiences that allow me to connect with people from different backgrounds and from all over the world.

Ideal way to spend a free night

My ideal free night is one that feels spontaneous. I love getting a group of friends together for a late-night adventure, whether that is watching the sunset or just spending time with my family playing board games, or going to a theme park with my best friends, or taking a random drive with good music and no real destination. Those are the moments that make me feel most alive laughing, making memories, and enjoying the little adventures that turn into the best stories.

High school or secondary school

Centro de Estudios Femenino Espíritu Santo-Guayaquil, Ecuador