What can I do while in school to get me even closer to becoming a professional in my field?

Great question! You have so many resources at your fingertips than we did even a few years ago. You can  learn basic coding concepts with Scratch (https://scratch.mit.edu/)  and find a local coding group through Girls Who Code (https://girlswhocode.com/)  There are also a lot of online resources to learn about web development, databases, and other coding frameworks! Get involved in a local SWE Next group or contact your local SWE Professional Section to seek out mentors who can talk to you about what it's like to be a software engineer, too! Good luck!