The Governor's STEM Scholars' STEM in Academia Conference opened my eyes to the crucial role of education in the discipline of STEM. Science and innovation no longer struck me as individual endeavors; rather, they are collaborations that flourish through mentorship and the relentless pursuit and exchange of information.
The day was filled with a sequence of thrilling presentations and interesting panel discussions, facilitated by passionate STEM professionals who spoke with enthusiasm about their long-held love for the field. Their stories were weaved with accounts of lives they had changed, students they had inspired, and common progress they had spearheaded. It made me realize that the real impact of STEM is not just seen in revolutionary breakthroughs but in the knowledge that gets passed on and shared with future generations.
The laboratory experience from a class I attended later in the day only fueled this passion. As I worked with the chemical equipment with Dr. Yvonne Gindt, I felt an overwhelming excitement—not only for the knowledge I was gaining but for the chance to pass it along to others. I learned that day that the best minds of history didn't just make STEM discoveries—they inspired, taught, and paved the way for progress through STEM education.
Written by Megha Sikka, 2025 Scholar
Megha Sikka is a sophomore at Monroe Township High School, where she is pursuing a biomedical track of the Honors STEM Academy. Megha volunteers in the emergency room of Robert Wood Johnson Hospital answering patient distress call bells, restocking medical cabinets, or performing tasks that doctors and nurses request. She is the founder of Senior Smiles, a non-profit organization where teenage volunteers visit residents at a local nursing home. Her initiative was recognized on the CMHQ Global blog, an international organization that focuses on youth-led impact. She presented a research project on the heart at HCNJ Health Fair held and her efforts where recognized in the newspaper and on TV. She also teaches at Kumon and was in the STEM Talented and Gifted Program for eight years. She was one of the leaders of a breast cancer sale, a part of the New Jersey Science League, and volunteers at blood drives at her school. Megha aspires to one day become a surgeon.
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