Reflections of a Scholar: Finding My Path in STEM

Attending the STEM in Industry Conference at New Jersey Institute of Technology as a Governor’s STEM Scholar was a genuinely eye-opening experience. Previously, I understood STEM mostly through classes and projects, but this event showed me how broad and impactful these fields really are in the real world.

Seeing STEM applied across such a wide variety of industries—from engineering and technology to healthcare and business—helped me realize that there isn’t just one path in STEM. Instead, there are countless opportunities to combine different interests and skills.

One of the most valuable parts of the conference was hearing directly from professionals. Each speaker shared not only their career path but also the challenges they faced and how they adapted.

This made their success feel more realistic and attainable. It was especially interesting to see how many of them didn’t follow a straight or predictable path, which reassured me that it’s okay to explore and figure things out over time.

Their experiences helped me start thinking more seriously about where I can see myself in the future and what kind of impact I want to make.

Written by Elena Beepat, 2026 Scholar Elena Beepat is a sophomore at Jose Marti STEM Academy. She is interested in business and marketing and completed Columbia University’s pre-college course Exploring the Marketing Mix, where she studied case studies and strategies with industry leaders. Elena also participates in the Real World Connections program at NJIT, earning top placements in team projects for two consecutive years.

On campus, she is active in student council and has completed more than 25 hours of community service, including reintroducing native plants to Allison Park. She is also a member of the Varsity Track & Field team, setting a school record in Triple Jump as a freshman.