Alyssa Pate

My name is Alyssa Pate, and I am from Simpsonville, SC. I am a Junior at Furman with an Applied Mathematics major and a minor in Data Analytics. I have always enjoyed doing math and fell in love with the subject when I was first introduced to algebra. I loved how it felt like a puzzle that needed to be solved and learned how to identify patterns to make some processes go faster. I first learned about this MayX during my first year at Furman. I was drawn to it because it combined two things I enjoyed: math and Disney. As I have grown as a student, and discovered a love for statistics and operations research, I felt that this experience would grant me some exposure to the fields of study that I am considering as a career. 

I am very excited to revisit Disney World. The last time I visited Disney was 13 years ago with my family as a surprise trip at the end of the school year. I don't remember most of the trip and cannot wait to make new memories surrounded by many of my close friends. I am ready to jump into the exciting projects we will be doing at the parks. I hope this experience will further my collaboration skills and reinforce other skills I already possess. While I may not be the biggest fan of roller coasters and drop towers, I plan to challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone to maximize my enjoyment on this trip. 

While at Disney, I hope to ride Space Mountain, the first time I rode it I was too scared to open my eyes and missed out on the fantastic visuals on the ride. I also hope to experience the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction since I have heard many outstanding reviews about it. My sister, who went with some of her friends at the end of December, said that it was something I wouldn't want to miss out on. I cannot wait for the Keys to the Kingdom tour. I am curious to learn about what goes on behind the scenes in the Magic Kingdom. Lastly, I am excited to celebrate my 21st birthday on this trip. I couldn't have asked for a more magical celebration on such a big milestone, although I will definitely miss getting to celebrate with my family this year. Regardless, I couldn't be more excited about this trip and I know I will love each experience, whether I am in the parks or in the classroom.