¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥

By SU Integrated Marketing

SALISBURY, MD---Jade Pearl wasn’t always sure what she wanted her future career to look like. When she was struggling to discover her passion in life, she realized there was one thing that helped her be true to herself.

“When I think of where I am now and look back, it all comes down to when I was 3 years old and playing Legend of Zelda: Windwaker on my GameCube for the first time,” Pearl said. “I want to create something that helps other people know they shouldn’t be afraid to be themselves.”

Pearl came to ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ as a transfer student to pursue her lifelong passion for video games. She is majoring in computer science with a minor in art. This way, she can bring her creativity to the skills and technology she is learning in the Computer Science Program, which will help her design characters and visuals for the video games she programs someday.

In addition to the flexibility of the programs, Pearl chose SU because of the TRIO Student Support Services program. As a first-generation college student, finances and access to resources are more of a consideration for Pearl and her family. Programs like SU’s TRIO have made all the difference in her education to help her get into school, stay in school and make connections that will carry on into her future career.

“If I didn’t have access to these resources, I don’t know how far I could have gotten,” Pearl said. “There are a lot of opportunities here that can help students not only enhance their abilities and help them through their academics, but also help them through life.”

Pearl is finding lots of ways to make connections with people who share her interests. She even found out SU has an Independent Game Development club. She hopes that the experiences and connections she’s getting at SU will help her continue to explore the possibilities for what she can do with computers. Every day, she feels a little closer to her dream of bringing more diversity to the video game industry – so she can someday inspire people with her creations, just like her favorite video games inspired her as a child.

“I want to give people the joy that video games have brought me, and I feel like the programs here at SU are going to help me do that,” Pearl said.

Learn more about TRIO and other resources for first-generation college students.

Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours.