My NEED Experience

June 30, 2017

NEED student and Youth Staff Member Janelli Pineda

Five years ago, I attended my first NEED Youth Awards and I was amazed by the program and peers I met along the way. Flash forward 5 years and I have just wrapped up my fourth year on staff with the brightest and most curious minds that I have ever met! When I first applied as a Youth Staff Member, I was a soft spoken and shy student- but was aware of my capabilities and passion for STEM and energy related activities. When I arrived, and was surrounded by individuals from all over the United States. I experienced a strange form of culture shock that was eased by our similarities in our love for science and education- little did I know what I was in for. This year at the Youth Energy Conference and Awards, I had the opportunity of undertaking a role in facilitating the Junior STEM Challenge and I am most certain to say that I have grown personally and professionally through NEED. NEED serves as a reminder that there are other people with similar and different experiences that are there to learn and grow with you and that is what keeps me coming back. The 37th Annual Youth Awards program underwent various phenomenal changes and additions that made it into a wonderful weekend and served as a reminder of the development of the program amongst students and teachers involved. The best thing about NEED is that the organization never settles and strives to make energy education and programs accessible for anyone in search! If you really immerse yourself in the potential of NEED’s mission and friendships made along the way, you quickly realize that this program may become a part a part of your life.