Mentor Biography

My name is Alliana Valencia, and I am a second-year Electrical Engineering major with a minor in Engineering Leadership. In 2025, I graduated from Wesley Chapel High School in Wesley Chapel, Florida. So far, my favorite classes at UCF have been Calculus II and Advanced Ethics in Science and Technology. I’ve always really liked math, and so far, Calculus II has been my favorite math course because it requires a lot of creative problem-solving skills and practice. Additionally, I really enjoyed my ethics class because it introduced me to the many different types of ethics and the roles they play in the real world. The class was very interesting and really opened my perspective on problems in our everyday lives. So far, my favorite professor has been Professor Reed. She taught my Calculus I class, and I believe that her teaching style and rigor helped me succeed in my following math courses. Her class was tough, but I am very grateful since it taught me essential study habits for math. I joined the COMPASS program because when I first came to UCF, I had no idea what I wanted to major in. Thankfully, COMPASS gave me the resources and support system I needed to help me choose the right major. Since I understand how difficult it is to decide on a major, my goal is to guide incoming undecided freshmen toward their correct path and help them feel part of a greater community. Outside of school, I enjoy hiking, camping, going to the beach, and traveling! I find that being in nature really helps me recharge, so I’m outside almost every weekend! 

My advice to incoming EXCEL, COMPASS, and STEM students would be to never give up. The classes you will take will be very challenging, and they will test your patience, dedication, and ability to persevere. However, it is important that you recognize your potential and keep pushing. At times, it may feel tempting to give up, but just remember that as a part of the EXCEL/COMPASS program, you have a strong support system to fall back on, and we are all here to guide you through your STEM degree!