Student

Hallie Harriman

Information Technology

When she first came to Penn College, Hallie was a little quiet. But she had a big goal—to be a video game developer. After making new friends, getting to know her professors, and joining a few student organizations, she felt a sense of belonging and motivation to succeed. Now that she’s in her senior year in the Game & Simulation program, she can't wait for the opportunities ahead.

Q&A with Hallie

WHY GAME & SIMULATION PROGRAMMING?

I chose Game & Simulation Programming because I have been immersed in the world of video games from a young age. I was amazed at the creative possibilities this career path has to offer and wanted to be able to share what I experienced with others around the world.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO FIND A COLLEGE THAT WILL CHALLENGE YOU AND INSPIRE YOU TO GROW?

Challenging yourself is always important as it gives you a chance to improve and even experience more opportunities you might not have thought you’d ever see yourself in before. Being at Penn College, I am constantly challenging and pushing myself to strive for improvement so that I can stand out among the crowd and inspire others to do the same.

WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING A WOMAN IN A STEM MAJOR AT PENN COLLEGE?

I know for my major specifically, there is only a small handful of women, but this doesn’t deter me from my work or experience here at Penn College. I am given the same respect and treated the same as everyone else. There are times when I even forget that I am part of the minority in this demographic.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL A YOUNG WOMAN INTERESTED IN A STEM CAREER FIELD?

Do it. Pursue your dream career. Do whatever you can to make your dream a reality. There are so many opportunities out there for women in STEM fields. You just have to be willing to branch out of your comfort zone and strive to challenge yourself whenever you can.