Sarah Khan

When my school shared the fellowship with me, I jumped at the opportunity. It was exactly what I was looking for; an international program exposing me to nearly all fields of STEM, helping me excel in my high school career and build a solid profile for college. I learned countless things I never could've been exposed to at home, and was able to connect with inspiring mentors achieving milestones similar to my ambitions. I also met lots of peers with similar goals and connected with students just like me from all over the world. The fellowship helped me in deciding a career path by exposing me to all fields in STEM, and gave me access to countless resources and strategies by mentors who had refined them from years of experience; time management, college applications, and even starting a business. I've carried a lot of the advice I was given into the school year too. I would encourage every student to apply to the fellowship!

Sarah Khan is a high school student from Pakistan with a deep passion for physics and astronomy. Since childhood, she’s been captivated by the mysteries of space, finding inspiration in scientists like Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking. Sarah now conducts research on spacecraft systems and recently published a paper in The Journal of Emerging Investigators. Sarah is also active in STEM and academic competitions, previously winning the All-Pakistan Junior National Debating Championship and placing first in the National Kangaroo Science Competition!

In her free time, Sarah enjoys photography, filmmaking, and reading classics. Inspired by one of the fellowship mentors, Sarah recently started a new project called “Lens for a Cause,” a documentary series aimed at raising awareness for women in rural communities in Pakistan. Read on to learn more about Sarah’s journey, her goals in aerospace engineering, and her vision for combining her passions in STEM and social impact!

Meet Sarah

What fields of STEM are you interested in?

From a young age, I’ve always been captivated by physics and astronomy, frequently diving into online articles about space and the mysteries of the cosmos. There’s something about the unknown—the vastness we’ve yet to understand—that fills me with curiosity and restlessness, inspiring me to explore and make sense of it all.

Carl Sagan was a huge influence on me growing up. My uncle introduced me to his books and shows when I was young, sparking a fascination that only grew as I got older. By the time I was 13 or 14, I was already attempting Stephen Hawking’s books, even though I barely understood them! These scientists, especially those in astronomy, fueled my passion, and Sagan, in particular, left a lasting impression of the universe’s beauty and boundless mystery.

Beyond astronomy, I’m drawn to other branches of physics, especially nuclear and quantum topics. And math has become something of a therapeutic pursuit for me—a way to connect with the logical side of science that I also love.

What projects or extracurricular activities are you currently involved in?

My biggest project recently has been remote research, since there aren’t many hands-on opportunities near me in Pakistan. Lately, I’ve been working on spacecraft systems with my uncle, who’s a professor in Ohio. We meet over Zoom to discuss research, and I recently published a paper in The Journal of Emerging Investigators, a journal for high school students. Research has become something I really enjoy because it’s so flexible; I can dive into any field I want to explore, from anywhere.

In addition to research, I’m involved in competitions. I just finished the Asian Regional Space Settlement Design Competition, and we qualified for the semifinals in Dubai! I’m also preparing for the World Robotics Olympiad and the International Astronomy Olympiad. Plus, I plan to spend some time applying to some programs I learned about through the fellowship, like the Research Science Institute (RSI).

Outside of STEM activities, I’m also involved in debate. It’s always been a pretty big part of my life. We have nationals coming up in mid-November, so I’m busy with that too. My weekends are full of debate tournaments, and it’s definitely a big commitment. We spend a lot of time researching and practicing, but it’s worth it. Debate has helped me sharpen my critical thinking skills, which is a huge benefit across everything I do.

What are your favorite hobbies outside of academics?

I really enjoy photography and spend most of my free time on it! I like to go outside in my backyard and take highly zoomed-in, micro shots of nature. I try to get so close that you can’t immediately tell what the subject is, and it becomes a fun little challenge. I also dabble in filmmaking, especially when we travel. We’re planning a trip across the country this winter, and I’m thinking of filming a documentary.

I love reading classics too. Right now, I’m going through all of Jane Austen’s books—I just finished Persuasion. Classics are challenging, but that’s what I love about them. They keep my mind active, and it’s almost therapeutic for me.

Summer Experience

What was your favorite part about the fellowship this summer?

Without a doubt, it was the people I had the opportunity to meet. I remember looking through the Mentor Directory before the program started and seeing profiles like “Harvard graduate,” “MIT undergrad,” and “Stanford undergrad.” It felt surreal! I’m incredibly grateful to have had access to so many accomplished mentors who offered advice and insights. Many of them were closer to my age, and that made it easier to relate to them and ask questions. I especially enjoyed learning from mentors who were still in college, since I felt like their advice was the most relevant to the stage I’m in. Overall, being able to connect with so many inspiring role models in different fields was invaluable.

Do you have a favorite talk or speaker from the fellowship?

Yes, I do! Isabel’s talk on magnets was my favorite. It was such a simple topic, but she was so passionate about it, and that passion was genuinely inspiring. Her enthusiasm for magnets made me feel validated about my own interests. It was like, okay, it’s normal to be obsessed with things like this! I found her incredibly inspiring—she started MIT this fall, and talking to her in office hours later was really impactful. She was super relatable and gave really actionable advice. I learned so much from her.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned from the fellowship?

For me, I think the most important skills I learned were the time management and study strategies. Alexa and Cierra both gave talks on time management and overcoming procrastination, and I still use their methods in my everyday school life. Their tips helped me so much—not only with time management but also with productivity in general. And it’s made a huge difference in tackling procrastination. Out of all the lessons I learned this summer, I felt that their advice has been the most directly applicable to my life, and it’s improved how I study, manage my extracurriculars, and ultimately, how I enjoy my time. I’m a lot more efficient now, which means I can get things done faster and still have fun with it all.

As someone who’s been through the program, what advice would you give to future participants of the fellowship?

The biggest thing would be to take advantage of every single resource that the fellowship provides. There are honestly so many resources that the fellowship offers, from the actionables to deliverables and all the different events. I attended every single event over the summer because each one was so valuable. Because I’m in Pakistan, the sessions took place at around 4 or 5 AM, but I would wake up early to attend live, and it was definitely worth it! It was a fun and productive schedule for the summer. Also, I took tons of notes, and I still use all of them today. Everything was just really, really useful. I would say definitely try to do every single thing that is offered, even the optional activities!

Future Aspirations

Are there any new projects you’ve been working since the fellowship?

Yes, I’m working on a new project called “Lens for a Cause.” It was actually inspired by one of the fellowship mentors, Amanda, and her non-profit, Pop for a Cause. My goal is to create mini-documentaries or a docuseries focused on raising awareness for women in rural communities in Pakistan. I plan to set up donation links to help provide employment and support for these women. This is something I’m really passionate about, and I’m excited to bring it to life.

Academically, I was really inspired by the fellowship’s emphasis on rigor, and I decided to challenge myself and take on more advanced coursework. I added further maths, is essentially college-level math since we don’t have APs here in Pakistan, and honestly, it’s going pretty well! I’m glad the fellowship helped give me the confidence to push myself academically.

What are your goals for the next 5 to 10 years and career aspirations?

I'm currently leaning toward aerospace engineering because I love hands-on work and have been passionate about it for a long time. I'm aiming to apply to schools like MIT, Stanford, and Caltech because they offer dedicated aerospace programs, which are harder to find at other colleges. My dream is to work at a place like NASA, building a career in space research, and potentially pursuing a PhD in astrophysics. I genuinely love learning, so I want to immerse myself in studying and research as much as possible before fully stepping into my career.

How did the fellowship influence your career aspirations?

I've been interested in aerospace for a long time, but the fellowship actually made me question my path in a really positive way. Through the program, I was exposed to so many fields—computer science, medicine, business, and entrepreneurship—and saw role models thriving in each of them. It gave me a new perspective, making me think, “maybe I’d be open to other careers in the future!”

As of now, astronomy and engineering are still my main interests, but now I feel comfortable with the idea of a shift later on if it feels right. I met a lot of mentors who changed paths in college or beyond, and I realized it's okay to be flexible. Now, I have a more open mindset about my future, and that flexibility has really helped me be open to other possibilities and opportunities.