Childhood
"My path with engineering started thanks to my parents. I was a curious child who always wanted to learn things and my parents were willing to teach me. I got excited thinking about how people solve real-world problems."
High School
"They suggested we create a SHPE Junior chapter. We knew the value of not only having these engineering skills but also sharing this with other high schools and other groups."
Xavier was president of the robotics team in high school when the local SHPE chapter of University of Texas El Paso visited.
"They suggested we create a SHPE Junior chapter. We knew the value of not only having these engineering skills but also sharing this with other high schools and other groups."
College
"I'm originally from El Paso and I wanted to broaden my horizons and look outside of my hometown. I was very lucky to get into MIT and I’ve been going there for the past four years. It's been an outstanding opportunity for me."
SHPE
"Once I got into MIT, the first thing I did when I visited was find the SHPE chapter. Luckily they had one and they took me in immediately. They became my Familia away from home and that's where I grew for years, becoming a vice president, then president of that chapter. I'm able to represent them at conference and grow more as a person, as a leader, and as an engineer."
Current
Xavier hopes to become a Chief Engineer and one day be an astronaut.
"I just graduated from MIT. I'm staying there for a fifth year to do my Master's and then once I finish I'm planning to hopefully go work at NASA JPL, if everything goes as planned. Down the line I'll become chief engineer and apply every year to be an astronaut. It will be nice to see all of earth through my window."
Mentors
"My most important mentors have been my parents. Since I was little, they have been telling me to try things out, definitely don't be afraid to fail, this is how life is, you’re going to be put down but you have to come back up."
"Another mentor is Grace Tang-Wang from JPL. She’s shown me what it's like to be a professional and how people work in the industry."
SHPE
"SHPE has made me realize that the power of having a network. Even if it's a room full of strangers, I feel like I’m at home. If they’re in SHPE, they’re my family."
Future
"After I graduate and go into professional life, I plan on being active in the SHPE professional chapter. Also being able to mentor a SHPE Junior chapter, be involved with a college, and attend conferences."
"I want more people to serve as role models because once you get one kid from one community to succeed, you’ll get plenty more over the years. My goal is spreading that knowledge and getting everyone succeeding together."
Advice
"My advice for SHPE members is come here to make relationships and just talk to people. Everyone's here to grow their Familia and help each other out."