On January 22, 2025, students from Rudsdale High School participated in an engaging In-Person Panel featuring an impressive lineup of STEM professionals: Samhitha Rama Prasad, Software Engineer II at BlackRock; Abhi Nathan, Supply Chain Operations at Tesla; and Natasha Nogueira, Senior Space Systems Engineer at Planet Labs PBC.
The event kicked off with thought-provoking questions provided by Educator Jessica Wan, particularly around the topic of male dominance in STEM. These sparked meaningful group discussions, with students pairing up to explore their thoughts and ideas before the panel began.
During the panel, students asked insightful questions about career advice and how to secure internships. Samhitha, serving as the Lead Panelist, shared her personal journey, highlighting how failure can serve as a redirection rather than a setback — encouraging students to embrace discomfort and view it as a catalyst for growth.
The conversation also tackled myths about STEM careers, the job search process, portfolio building, and imposter syndrome — giving students a well-rounded look at both the challenges and opportunities in STEM fields.
“Something inspiring was hearing about the struggles the speakers went through to get where they are today. This experience motivated me to pursue my dreams and future career. My favorite things I learned were that there aren’t many women in the STEAM fields, and how the speakers grew from their challenges.”
12th Grade IGNITE Student
“The women and their jobs were amazing. There were a lot of good questions and answers. I liked hearing about their journeys and how they got to where they are now.”
11th Grade IGNITE Student
“It inspired me because I got to hear a lot of different perspectives — something that doesn’t happen often at school. I learned that there aren’t many people of color in STEM.”
11th Grade IGNITE Student
STUDENTS SURVEYED FOLLOWING PARTICIPATION IN THIS EVENT REPORTED...
86%
INTERESTED IN STEM
71%
KNOW MORE ABOUT STEM CAREERS & THE BENEFITS OF WORKING IN STEM
75%
FEEL MORE CONFIDENT
IN PURSUING STEM
71%
GAINED PERSPECTIVE & FEEL MORE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE
Additional Student Feedback:
“Today’s event inspired me because I realized I might be interested in learning how to work at Tesla or with cars in general. I also liked learning about chemicals, since I want to study cosmetology. My favorite thing I learned was that I don’t have to know exactly what I want to do as a career, especially at a young age, and that it’s okay to fail.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
“Today’s event inspired me not to give up and to keep moving forward, motivated by the experiences each woman shared. I also learned what STEM means.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
Thank you to our IGNITE Volunteers and Educators:
- Samhitha Rama Prasad
- Abhi Nathan
- Natasha Nogueira
- Jessica Wan
About IGNITE Worldwide:
IGNITE Worldwide is a 501(c)3 nonprofit STEM education organization that aims to change gender and racial equity in STEM permanently and systematically. We work directly with teachers during the school day to provide programming that promotes gender equity and representation in STEM academics and careers. Through our award-winning program, IGNITE provides engaging, hands-on events that connect students with STEM professionals from industry leaders from around the world. Learn more at igniteworldwide.org.