IGNITE Field Trip to Oracle with Eckstein Middle School

On Tuesday, October 21, thirty students from Eckstein Middle School spent the day at Oracle for an exciting IGNITE field trip filled with workshops, hands-on learning, and an inspiring Women in STEM panel. Students were welcomed by a large team of Oracle volunteers including Adedamola Adebayo, Akshaya Arora, Anusha Gururaja Manur, Ash Setlur, Ashley Edsall, Cara Kleid, Daniyal Zulfiqar, Elizabeth Castillo, Gabrielle Genevich, Jessica Bradley, Kayla Jeter, Keith McDermott, Kelly Cheng, Leslie Fowler, Marie Sorell, Megan Snyder, Natascha Kempfe, Padmaja Kolle, Rahul Motan, Rakesh Joshi, Raven Robertson, Rohith Kumar Veligeti, Sarah Nassery, Shivani Thakkar, Tricia Fisk, and Yashashvi Dave. They received swag bags and were organized into small groups that rotated through four engaging workshops led by Cara Kleid, Ashley Edsall, Kayla Jeter, and Natascha Kempfe. Each workshop leader shared her career journey and guided students through an interactive activity tied to her field, allowing students to explore UX design, game theory, debugging, and the importance of soft skills in STEM.

After the workshops, students enjoyed lunch and gathered for a panel moderated by Shivani Thakkar. Panelists Leslie Fowler, Akshaya Arora, Elizabeth Castillo, and Gabrielle Genevich shared personal stories and experiences, giving students insight into the different paths that can lead to careers in technology. Students were eager to learn and asked thoughtful questions including how the Panelists knew what career they wanted before college, what steps they could take now to learn more about STEM, what classes to focus on, how old you need to be to work in tech, and what entry-level salaries look like. They also asked how many women work at Oracle and how the Panelists knew their careers were the right fit.

Panelists shared several key pieces of advice, encouraging students to ask questions, become subject matter experts, and eventually mentor others. They emphasized that career paths often change unexpectedly and that it is okay to study one thing and end up doing something completely different. Students were encouraged to take risks, try things that scare them, and embrace challenges because these are the experiences that lead to growth. Panelists also highlighted the importance of supporting peers, expressing empathy, and building strong relationships at work. They urged students to speak up, participate, and make themselves visible so they are not overlooked for opportunities, promotions, or growth.