Student Success Profiles: Desiree Makowski

CAGD student Desiree Makowski

At just 4 years old, Desiree Makowski was a champion video game player. Well, she thought so anyway.

The vivacious little girl would spend hours playing "Super Mario Bros. 3," "The Legend of Zelda," and "Sonic the Hedgehog" with her father, Jerry, laughing, screaming and celebrating her victories.

A few years later, though, she'd learned the truth: She was, in fact, a horrible player.

"I was so awful at it," Makowski laughs. "But it was one of my favorite things to do with my dad. Video games have always been close to my heart. For me, it's about those memories that were created."

Now, as a computer animation and game development student with a minor in project management at California State University, Chico(opens in new window), Makowski is on the cusp of getting her bachelor's degree — and the chance to create her own games.