Emily Chen

The fellowship is such an amazing and well-organized opportunity for high school students who are unsure about what they want to do in the future or are looking for inspiration/motivation. The program not only offers a really fun experience for the summer, but it also provides guidance with mentors, passion projects, college applications, and so much more! I personally loved the fellowship because it allowed for a flexible schedule since I was also participating in other commitments over the summer, but I was still able to get so much out of it. I’m so grateful for the program and its amazing speakers, and for introducing me to the various areas of STEM in such a collaborative and interesting way!

Emily Chen is a high school student from New Jersey interested in math, computer science, and creative problem-solving. Emily began participating in math competitions at a young age, and she is now a student at the Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering, where she serves as the co-president of the school’s Math Club. Emily has also been working on computer-aided design and 3D printing projects.

Beyond academics, Emily enjoys combining her creativity with her love for helping others. In middle school, Emily started a crochet initiative in middle school, crafting characters from books for small authors and donating the proceeds to hospitals. Emily is working towards re-launching the initiative and is excited to turn her passion for crocheting into something meaningful. Read on to learn about Emily’s love for math, her engineering projects, and her aspirations for the crotchet organization!

Meet Emily

How did you initially become interested in STEM, and which subjects are you the most interested in?

I’ve probably been studying math for as long as I can remember! I grew to love it starting in elementary school. I took a lot of math classes and eventually started exploring programming, which I really enjoyed. Later, I had the chance to apply to the Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering, the school I attend now. Going to this school has completely immersed me in STEM, and it’s been a huge part of my life ever since.

Math has always been one of my biggest passions—it’s at the core of everything I do. I also really enjoy computer science and programming; they challenge me in the best ways. At my school, we take required engineering classes, like electrical engineering and computer-aided design, and I’ve found those incredibly fascinating as well.

What extracurriculars are you involved in?

I’m involved in a few clubs at school. I’m co-president of the Math Club, a member of the Computer Science Club, and I’m considering joining the French Club this year. There’s also the Technology Student Association, which focuses on competitions, and I’m planning to participate in that as well. I’m also working on a Lego project where I’ve been designing a Lego set and 3D printing it. It’s been a really fun and creative process.

Outside of school, I started a crochet initiative with one of my middle school teachers toward the end of middle school. Small authors would reach out to me, asking me to crochet characters from their books. They would sell the crocheted figures, and I’d donate the proceeds to hospitals. Unfortunately, I haven’t had as much time for it since starting high school, but I really want to get back into it. I’m passionate about both crocheting and helping people, and it would be amazing to combine both of these through one project.

Summer Experience

What was your favorite part about the fellowship?

I really loved the sense of community it created. There were so many students from diverse backgrounds and different parts of the world, all coming together to share their passion for STEM. It was so inspiring to see how our interests connected us, even though we came from such different experiences. I really enjoyed the coffee chats and meeting people from all over the world. I still keep in touch with some of the students through social media!

What was your favorite Fireside Chat over the summer?

My favorite Fireside Chat was the very first one of the summer: Isabella’s Fireside Chat on turning ideas into reality. She’s such an engaging speaker, and what stood out to me is that she’s not much older than me. She started pursuing her ideas and launching initiatives at such a young age, even in high school, which really showed me that it’s never too early to begin making an impact. Her story inspired me to take action, even while I’m still in high school.

Her Fireside Chat inspired me to start thinking about my crocheting nonprofit again. After hearing Isabella’s talk and many others throughout the fellowship, I felt motivated to start planning how I want to relaunch it. Hearing about other students’ projects also motivated me to take steps toward making it happen.

What were some of the lessons you learned over the summer?

One of the biggest lessons I took away from the talks was the importance of cold emailing. The fellowship really emphasized that opportunities don’t just come to you—you have to actively seek them out. That mindset has stuck with me, and I’ve become more comfortable reaching out to create opportunities for myself. Earlier this year, I reached out to a local college, Stevens Institute, because I knew someone who worked in a lab there. They told me to follow up in the spring, but I’m still really glad I put myself out there and made the initial connection.

Future Aspirations

What are your goals over the next few years, and do you know what career you’re hoping to pursue yet?

Over the next two to three years of high school, I want to focus on exploring different areas to figure out what I’m truly passionate about and then pursue those interests more deeply. I think in college, there will be even more opportunities to discover and develop my passions. As for a career, I’m not entirely sure yet—it’s something I imagine could shift once I’m in college and exposed to a whole new environment. But I know it will definitely be in STEM, possibly something related to engineering, math, or computer science. I’m excited to see where that journey takes me.

How did the fellowship influence your career aspirations?

The fellowship really expanded my perspective on career possibilities. When you’re younger, you tend to think of just a few common jobs like doctor, teacher, or author. But through the fellowship, I learned there are so many more career paths out there, and I gained valuable insight into what those roles actually involve.

The career panels over the summer were really eye-opening. The speakers shared their experiences, and their jobs didn’t always fit neatly into one category. It was fascinating to hear about careers that go beyond the traditional ones we often think of. It made me realize how diverse and dynamic the options are in STEM.

One interesting career I was exposed to was product management. It sounds really interesting because it would allow me to combine my passions for technology, art, and design in a meaningful way. It’s something I’d definitely like to explore further.

What have you been up to since the fellowship?

Since starting my sophomore year, things have been busy, but I’ve also been exploring new opportunities and joining different extracurriculars to see where they might take me. One thing I’m especially excited about is revisiting my crocheting idea. I want to turn my passion for crocheting into something meaningful—using it to help others. I think it’s so important to channel your interests into making a difference, and that’s what I’m focusing on right now.