Eshal Khattak

The fellowship was a valuable experience that really helped me see STEM from a new perspective. The program introduced me to different skills and opportunities that I hadn’t considered before, and the mentors were incredibly supportive throughout the process. They encouraged me to push my limits, which helped me build more confidence in my abilities. By the end of the fellowship, I felt more prepared and motivated to continue exploring STEM and take on new challenges.

Eshal Khattak is a high school student from Saudi Arabia passionate about biology, chemistry, and the intersection of the two—biochemistry. Eshal hopes to pursue medicine in the future, become a doctor, and eventually open her own clinic. Eshal currently serves as a media executive for ASD Echoes, UNICEF, and the Huron Inspiring Youth Committee. Eshal enjoys art and hosts exhibitions showcasing her Arabic calligraphy, and she also plays basketball and football on international teams.

Eshal founded Jinaykay, a nonprofit empowering girls from marginalized communities. During the fellowship, Eshal met other students from around the world and was able to expand the organization to six countries and partner with three other nonprofit organizations. She is excited to continue growing the reach and impact of the organization. Read on to learn more about Eshal’s wide range of extracurriculars, the work she’s done through Jinaykay, and her aspirations to become a doctor!

Meet Eshal

How did you initially become interested in STEM?

I’ve always grown up in a very STEM-focused family. Most of my uncles and my mom are surgeons or work in the medical field, while my dad and his siblings are engineers, including my aunts. I got the medical influence from my mom’s side and the math, engineering, and computer science influence from my dad’s side. Being surrounded by that, visiting their clinics, and seeing the projects they led really sparked my interest in STEM.

What fields are you most interested in now?

I’m really passionate about biology and chemistry, and the intersection of both—biochemistry. These are the fields I feel most drawn to. In the future, I hope to go to medical school and am interested in pursuing a career in anesthesiology or dermatology. These fields are what I’m most passionate about, and I’d love to match into one of them someday.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

At my school, I’m the head media executive for ASD Echoes, our school’s news club. I also serve as the junior media executive for UNICEF in my region and for the Huron Inspiring Youth Committee. In Debate Club, I work as a judge and moderator, and I’m the senior editor for our school’s media page. Outside of school activities, I also teach art and dance.

I also founded a non-profit called Jinaykay, which focuses on providing opportunities for girls from marginalized communities. We’ve expanded to six different countries and partnered with three other NGOs, which has been really exciting. I actually met most of the other team members from the fellowship! Our team is very diverse, with members from countries including India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar, Canada, and the U.S. Together, we’ve opened branches in their schools and communities to help spread our impact.

What do you enjoy doing outside of school?

I play on two international teams for basketball and football within the Saudi Arabia region, so I spend a lot of time practicing for those. I also enjoy acrobatic hula hoop dancing as a hobby.

In addition, I’m on a ladies’ golf team and love playing squash. Outside of sports, I’m passionate about painting. I host my own art exhibitions and sell my work, which is very rewarding.

I specialize in Arabic calligraphy, creating large canvas paintings in acrylic or oil with Islamic or Arabic-themed designs. Over time, I’ve developed my own unique style of calligraphy, which makes my work unique.

Summer Experience

What was your favorite part about the fellowship?

My favorite part of the fellowship was the opportunity to meet so many students from around the world. I’ve never met so many girls who shared the same mindset and goals as I do. It was amazing to be in a space where I could freely communicate and share ideas, knowing everyone was eager to help and learn from each other.

The intrinsic motivation everyone had toward their goals was incredibly inspiring. It felt like we were all part of this supportive, collaborative community, building connections and encouraging one another. It was really nice to meet so many new people.

Who was your favorite speaker from the summer?

My favorite speaker was Cierra. She runs an instant noodle factory in New York. I had the chance to speak with her during office hours, and she really helped me understand how to pursue and implement ideas later in life. I was confused about how to start something like what she did, and she broke it down step by step.

Another speaker I found inspiring was Kayla, an undergraduate at Yale studying pre-med. She shared tips on writing college essays, and the advice she gave was incredibly helpful. Her advice stuck with me and has been really useful.

What was one of the most valuable lesson you learned?

One of the most valuable lessons I learned came from Isabella’s Fireside Chat. She, along with other mentors, shared how things don’t always go as planned the first time. They talked about needing to cold call or cold email many times to get a response.

I’m generally patient, but my patience has limits. I learned that if you want something, you have to keep going, even when it doesn’t work out the first time. Across all the mentors, there was a recurring message: if things didn’t go their way initially, they kept trying until it did. That lesson has really stuck with me.

Last year, I’d get stressed and give up if things didn’t go my way the first time—whether it was landing an opportunity or reaching out to someone. This year, I’ve become more persistent, especially with university applications and scholarships. If I don’t get a response from one person, I reach out to someone else or try a different approach. I’ve learned to keep pushing and to never give up.

What advice would you share with future participants of the fellowship?

I’d say attend all the chats and events, and try to keep an open mind, even if you don’t think you’re interested in a specific field. You never know what insights you’ll gain or what you’ll learn.

For example, there was a speaker who worked across engineering, math, computer science, and biotechnology. These aren’t my personal interests, but hearing her talk about what she does and loves was really eye-opening. It made me realize how important it is to learn about other fields, even if they’re not for you. Life can be unpredictable, and having knowledge in different areas is valuable. Keeping an open mind helps you appreciate other people’s passions and broadens your perspective.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions, even the ones you think might be “dumb.” No question is truly dumb. And take notes during the fellowship—you never know when that information might come in handy. Overall, be as involved as possible—it makes a huge difference.

Future Aspirations

What are your goals over the next five to ten years and longer-term career aspirations?

I want to go to medical school in the UK, take my USMLE, and hopefully get a residency in the US. My dream fields are dermatology or anesthesiology.

If I match into dermatology, I’d love to specialize in beauty dermatology and aesthetics. Eventually, I’d like to open my own clinic, similar to what my mom did. In the next 5 to 10 years, I see myself finishing medical school, completing my specialty training, and starting the career I’ve always dreamed of.

How did the fellowship influence your career aspirations?

The fellowship was a pivotal experience for me. Before, I was also considering law and political science, as I enjoy studying those subjects in my free time. However, listening to the mentors involved in STEM, biology, and pre-medicine really solidified my decision. Hearing about their work, schools, and daily lives helped me realize that medicine is truly my path. It resonates deeply with me, and I’m now even more confident in my choice to pursue a career in medicine.

What have you been up to after the fellowship?

Since the fellowship, I’ve been working on expanding Jinaykay—trying to grow the reach and impact. With the students I met during the fellowship, we were able to expand to six countries around the world, which has been really exciting.

Also, I recently started an internship at a school for disabled children, something I’ve wanted to do for years. It was thanks to what I learned about cold emailing during the fellowship that I was able to secure the opportunity. Through the internship, I’ve been supporting individuals with special needs, ranging from four-year-olds to adults, in learning life skills and securing jobs.

Another project I’m working on is Badalisha. This initiative was started in 2014 in Saudi Arabia, but the founder left before COVID. I’ve brought together a team and revitalized the project. It’s an overnight event, from 6 PM to 6 AM, where middle and elementary school students present workshops on global issues. It’s a fun and engaging way for them to learn about the world.