Jayvant Rajesh is a high school student from California with a strong interest in engineering. Jayvant’s passion grew throughout the Fellowship, inspiring him to continue exploring different engineering pathways. He loves the hands-on nature of the field and especially enjoys working with CAD and three-dimensional modeling. Jayvant is also an active member of his school’s robotics and Science Olympiad teams, as well as the Future Business Leaders of America, where he is exploring how to merge his interests in engineering and business.

After being inspired by the mentorship he received during the fellowship, Jayvant is currently focused on growing his nonprofit initiative, Next Frontiers, aimed at creating a learning community centered on STEM subjects. Read on to learn more about Jayvant, his journey in STEM, and his aspirations for the future!

Meet Jayvant!

How did you initially become interested in STEM?

I initially became interested in STEM last year when I was in middle school. At that time, I had no clear direction, but during my freshman year, I started to figure out what I wanted to do. My interest in STEM largely comes from my dad, who is a software engineer. Since a young age, I've been good at math and STEM subjects, and he encouraged me to explore the engineering route.

What academic subjects or fields of STEM are you most interested in?

Right now, I'm focused on engineering. I've been engaging in some engineering-related activities, but I'm exploring different pathways to identify what I truly want to do! Recently, I've been learning CAD, or computer-aided design, and I've enjoyed three-dimensional modeling. I find learning about different types of electrical signals, motors, and hands-on work in engineering to be so interesting!

What other extracurriculars are you involved in?

Last year, I was interested in business and joined around ten clubs, but the Fellowship helped me to realize that I need to focus on what I truly enjoy and excel in. Now, I'm concentrating on speech and debate, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), robotics through FTC, and working on engineering projects at Science Olympiad, which I find the most enjoyable.

Fellowship Experience

What was your experience like at the Summit STEM Fellowship?

The entire experience was really new to me. Coming in as a freshman, I wasn't expecting to understand everything and thought I’d be lost. However, it turned out to be really fun. My favorite part was meeting and connecting with all of the mentors, as they were involved in the same fields of STEM that I’m interested in.

What were some of your favorite speakers or events during the summer?

All of the mentors were so interesting! I especially enjoyed talking with Harsha Paladugu, who shared valuable tips on investing in stocks. There were also many speakers focused on nonprofits, which resonated with me as I recently started a nonprofit initiative. The knowledge I gained from the speakers helped me learn a lot about myself and my interests.

As for my favorite event, I attended almost all the office hours sessions except one! I had so many great conversations with many of the mentors, including Aaron Chin, who is in electrical engineering, and Ryan Kim, who is involved in venture capital. Their insights inspired me to continue exploring a career in both engineering and finance. This year, I’m considering organizing an event related to finance in FBLA after the advice I received from mentors in the fellowship.

What advice do you have for future Summit STEM fellows?

One of my main regrets is not participating in the game nights and trivia nights after the first one. I wish I had participated in more and would recommend getting involved in every optional event, especially the ideathons, which were a particularly fun experience for me. They really made me think about my life, my future in STEM, and how I could improve myself.

Future Aspirations

What are your goals over the next few years, and what type of career are you hoping to pursue?

My primary goal right now is to get into a good college. I want to excel throughout high school, possibly grow my nonprofit, and explore my options for college and my future career. I’ve been thinking about pursuing an engineering degree and possibly an MBA as well, as I have a strong interest in both business and engineering. 

Before the Summit STEM Fellowship, I felt lost regarding my career path. After participating, my perspective completely changed. I initially thought I wanted to go into business or computer science, but now I want to pursue engineering. The Summit STEM Fellowship provided me with a broad overview of various fields, not just STEM, and how my interests can be combined, which helped me decide to focus on engineering after going through the program.

What have you been up to since the Fellowship? Any new or exciting projects?

I'm collaborating with a few people that I met at the Summit STEM Fellowship on a project called Next Frontiers, which is a learning community focused on STEM subjects. I found amazing partners through the Fellowship, Puneeth and Aarav, who are helping me grow the initiative. I’m also considering starting a blog about my high school experience and offering advice to other freshmen who feel lost. I’m excited to figure out my next steps!