The seminar 'Creating Your Best Future!' focuses on the 7 habits of successful STEM students, including developing a spiritual core, crafting a vision, accepting responsibility, striving for excellence, being a lifelong learner, building interpersonal skills, and networking. Prominent panelists share insights and wisdom, encouraging self-reflection and personal commitments for growth. Key takeaways are designed to inspire students to align their habits with their values and become well-rounded professionals.

1. SEMINAR: 2610
Creating Your Best Future! The 7 Habits of
Successful Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Math Students

2. Agenda
• Introduction
• What are the 7 Habits?
• Panelists Wisdom & Discussion
• Reflection & Share Out
• Key Takeaways & Closing

3. Christian Small
Reactor Engineering Manager
Exelon Generation – Clinton Power Station
B.S. Nuclear Engineering, University of Illinois

4. Chéla Wallace
Assistant Director of Science School Support (Grades 6-12)
Mastery Charter Schools
B.A in Chemistry, University of Virginia
M.Ed in Curriculum & Instruction with emphasis in Integrated Science
Teaching, Our Lady of the Lake University

5. Austin Haygood
Senior Systems Engineer II
Raytheon Missile Systems
B.S. Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University

6. Nicole Toler
Manager of Electrical Engineering-
Northrop Grumman Corporation
M.S.E.E. , California State University, Long Beach,
B.S.E.E. , Howard University

7. 7 Habits of Successful STEM students

8. Develop Spiritual Core
• What it is:
– Your system of deeply
held beliefs & values
• What you get:
– Inspiration, Motivation, Clarity,
Improved Behavior, Tangible Results,
Self-Fulfillment, Resiliency, Rejuvenation
• What you do:
– Continually evaluate/seek sources of
wisdom and reflect on the big picture
– Align habits with values and beliefs

9. Craft Your Vision
• Set The Vision
– Brand
– BHAG—Big Hairy
Audacious Goal
– Make a Blueprint
• Embrace the Vision
• Protect the Vision

10. Accept Responsibility
• You’re in charge
– College
– Career pace
– Promotion
• Take calculated risks that align with
the vision

11. Strive for Excellence
• Understand the objective
• Have Grit & Tenacity
– Bloom where you are
planted
• Accountability
– To you
– Others on your team
– Family & Friends

12. Be a Lifelong Learner
• Embrace the following as habits
– Critical Thinking
– Tinkering
– Curiosity
• Be open to growth
• Test & Recognize Opportunity
• Fight for Clarity

13. Build Interpersonal Skills
• Humility is a must
• Develop skills in the Humanities
– Reading
– Writing
– Speaking
• Servant’s Heart
• Suggested Book: “How to Win
Friends & Influence People”

14. Network
• “Your network is your net worth”
• Mentor/sponsor needed at
every stage of your life
• Follow-through
• Support Advocates
• Gratitude

15. Panelists Wisdom & Discussion

16. Reflection & Share Out
• Which of the suggested habits is an
area of strength?
• Which of the following habits is an
area of growth?
• Write two commitments that will help
you improve in both areas.

17. Dr. Katherine G. Johnson

18. From Dr. Katherine G. Johnson…
• “Always do your best!”
• “No less than anybody else, no better
than anybody else.”
• “Stay focused on work or the task
given to you.”
• “Don’t leave room for another chance,
get it right the first time.”
• “Establish a love of learning.”

19. Thank you
• Austin Haygood
– Austin.t.haygood@Raytheon.com
• Nicole Toler
– Nicole.toler@ngc.com
• Christian Small
– Christian.small@exeloncorp.com
• Chéla Wallace
– chelawallace@gmail.com