For a group of high school students from the San Diego-based nonprofit Reality Changers, the 2025 ABET Symposium wasn’t just a glimpse into the world of STEM but a firsthand experience of what lifelong learning looks like in action.
Reality Changers prepares high school students to become first-generation college graduates and community leaders through mentorship, academic support and college preparation, especially for those who are underrepresented in STEM fields. Attending the Symposium was part of their broader Career Exploration week over spring break designed to expose students to a wide range of professional pathways.
“Most students don’t have these types of role models in their lives,” said Ashley Morgan, senior vice president at Reality Changers. “These visits help them to see themselves as future professionals and to understand how a college degree is a stepping stone to future success.”
Their visit, led by Raquel Simbala, ABET assistant, accreditation, to the Symposium offered a unique opportunity for these high school juniors and seniors to explore careers in STEM by showing how the learning journey begins long before students enter the workforce.
“A lot of these spaces are so new to them,” Simbala explained. “So, seeing something like this andhaving them come in contact with different types of professionals is so important for them to get a glimpse of the possibilities that they can have.”
From Participant to Peer
Jacob Fernandez, a Reality Changers alumnus and third-year computer engineering student at San Diego State University, shared his personal story with the organization during the second-day plenary. He recalled going to the public library with his mom to use the computers, since his family didn’t have a reliable one at home. When his school provided a Chromebook during the pandemic, he realized how far behind he was. “It was then I knew I wanted to help create something better to help more people in a situation like mine,” Fernandez said during his speech.
He took Advanced Placement courses related to computer science and was focused on passing the class and the exam, but didn’t know how to approach the college application process. That’s where Reality Changers made all the difference. “If it weren’t for her [Rea, the Reality Changer instructor assigned to my school], I wouldn’t have been accepted to five universities, one of them being San Diego State,” he said.
Reality Changers helped Fernandez apply to colleges, find scholarships and discover his path in computer engineering. As a college ambassador, Fernandez helps guide current students through the same process.
A Day of Exploration and Connection
Fernandez emphasized the Symposium’s theme by explaining that lifelong learning isn’t just for professionals, it begins early. The Reality Changers students who followed in his footsteps experienced that message firsthand by attending sessions, touring behind-the-scenes production areas with Encore and engaging with professionals. During a reception, they sat down with ABET Volunteer Experts to hear real stories from working professionals while the students shared their own personal stories. “[The Volunteer Experts] were all giving each of those students nuggets of gold, nuggets of wisdom that I think was important for them to hear,” Simbala recalled.
For many students, these moments were eye-opening. One, for example, lingered at the Quanser booth, captivated by a robotic system and asking questions long after the demo ended. They were also able to go into the green room to view the production efforts that go into the plenaries first-hand. Morgan saw this as an opportunity for students to get a glimpse at the professional working world, and to see that the professional world is more than “just sitting at a desk.”
“I hope they see that it is a place where they are welcomed and where their questions and ideas are valued; whether they go into STEM, education or a different field,” she explained.
To learn more about Reality Changers, visit realitychangers.org.