Women Who Reign: Gretchen Girdzis

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” -Arthur Ashe
~~~~

Tell us about yourself along with a fun fact!
Hi — I’m Gretchen! I was born among the green mountains in Vermont, where I then enjoyed a few years of crisp autumn weather and sledding in snow blizzards. At the age of three, my family and I moved to Florida. While living in the “Sunshine State” for five years, I found excitement in exploring Disney World (yes — it is magical) and frolicking on the many beaches along the coast. Although I enjoyed Florida, I was happy to discover I would live in Vermont once again, while still appreciating childhood.

When it came time to transition from high school to higher education, my mind was swarmed with many different thoughts. My major choices ranged from Veterinary Medicine to Entertainment Law to Dietetics to Radiology (you name it — I probably considered it). After contemplating almost every possible major on the planet, my mom encouraged me to watch a short video broadcasted through The Today Show. This segment surrounded the what, when, where, why, and how of Computer Science. With technology in the modern world growing exponentially and the level of dependence rising, the opportunities are virtually endless. It is almost like every major combined into one, fueling the unique field that it…