When a high school teacher told Mira Velasco she didn’t “look like an engineer,” she turned that doubt into motivation. Instead of letting someone else define her future, she pursued engineering with determination and discovered a field she had never even heard of before college: printed wiring board design. Today, Mira is an engineer at Qualcomm, where she describes her role as creative problem-solving, “like playing connect-the-dots or solving puzzles.”
Mira shared her story alongside Meredith Faber, a geologist with Aramco Americas, during STEM Next’s Career Chat, Engineering Your Tech Future. Together, they showed students that there is no single path into STEM and that backgrounds, passions, and even setbacks can all shape meaningful careers.
The conversation was moderated by STEM Next Flight Crew member Te’Lario, who also participates in the Teen Science Café program. Hosting gave him a chance to build leadership skills while guiding his peers through an engaging conversation with two highly accomplished STEM professionals.
Watch: STEM Next Career Chat with Qualcomm and Aramco
‘Perfection does not exist’
The panelists addressed common misconceptions about STEM careers. Meredith reminded students that “there is no single right path to a cool career.” She explained that not all STEM jobs are lab-based, sharing how she reframed her experience studying snails in college to pursue a career in energy.
Mira’s story showed that engineering can be just as creative as it is technical, and that representation matters when young people picture themselves in the field.
Both speakers emphasized resilience, creativity, and the importance of diversity. Mira told students, “Perfection does not exist. What matters is bringing yourself to the table and doing the work with passion.” Meredith reinforced the value of a strong foundation, adding, “If you know the basic principles, you can apply them to pretty much any kind of problem.”
Navigating college and career paths
The panelists shared practical, no-fluff advice for teens preparing for college and careers. Meredith encouraged students to “visit colleges to get the vibe” and to “write about what you know” in applications. She also stressed that it is fine to take different classes and not rush into choosing a major. Mira urged students to pursue areas they care about deeply, saying, “Go with what you feel passionate about, something you can wake up every day and be like, okay, I get to do this every day.”
Teens also had the chance to ask about their own next steps, from preparing for internships to learning about opportunities at Aramco and Qualcomm. The dialogue made clear that connecting directly with professionals helps young people see how real-world careers are built and how persistence and curiosity can shape the future.
Together, Te’Lario, Meredith and Mira drove home that STEM is not one-size-fits-all, but a landscape where different backgrounds and perspectives create the conditions for innovation. We are grateful to Aramco Americas and Qualcomm for supporting this conversation and for investing in the next generation of STEM leaders.