I eventually joined Melan as an alumnus of MAST Academy, but what set me on a journey to find myself in such a competitive high school? One day Robert was telling me about his own fathers’ ambitions as an architect, and how that shaped Robert’s desires to follow in his father’s footsteps and create beauty that resonates with life in such a way as only a home can. Melan, he said, was taking a different path.
At the time, Melan was traveling throughout the middle east, closing several contracts on behalf of his new company, an energy firm which takes organic waste and sewage and turns it into biogas. I wouldn’t be overselling you on this family if I said that they were in blood playboys with a taste for luxury cars and attention. Despite their personalities being so transparently opaque, I did see the opportunity that lay within the energy industry, and the seeming ease with which Melan broke into it. It kicked off years of searching for a way to break into it myself, and that’s the plan moving forward.
I started a nonprofit out of high school which creates STEM programming for low-income students that focuses on climate and conservation science, simultaneously tackling socioeconomic inequality and climate change by fueling conservation with efforts to open opportunities int he STEM pipeline to a historically disconnected demographic. I aim to break into sustainable energy innovations with it once I develop the skills I need to manage a social enterprise in this and the subsequent course.
It is so admirable that you are able to start something like this way before even having the exact knowledge for it. The fact that you started a non-profit right out of high school is astonishing and really daring. What made you want to target that issue? It's something that not many think of, most acknowledge there's that issue when they come from a lower socioeconomic location, yet the fact you come from a suburban family and was surrounded by geniuses lets me to believe that something else empowered you?! I think your non-profit is really creative and admirable! Kudos to you!
ReplyDeleteI applaud you for recognizing an opportunity and acting on it. Starting a non-profit is no small feat. Your ability to recognize that others who may not be as fortunate, but given the proper funding and tools, could provide insight into a developing market is commendable. I hope that you continue your efforts in climate and conservation research, as well as, continue to assist those who have an interest in that area but not the means to pursue it.
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing story of a son who follows in his father's footsteps with a different pair of shoes. He worked as hard as his father to create something beautiful that will help people in his own way. This STEM program for underprivileged people is amazing, giving people who would otherwise not have the opportunity to gain experience and new ideas about themselves and their future.
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