I’ll be honest, walking into my first NSBE National Convention in Baltimore, I didn’t quite know what to expect. Four days later, I left with a whole new appreciation for what this organization truly is.
As a delegate representing our chapter, I got a behind-the-scenes look at how NSBE operates at the professional level — the structure, the moving parts, and the people who keep it all running. It was eye-opening, especially since I wasn’t deeply involved during my student years. Seeing how intentional and community-driven everything is made me wish I had plugged in sooner.
And then there were the people, honestly, the best part of the whole trip. The students I met were something else. Brilliant, driven, and passionate doesn’t even begin to cover it. Connecting with young engineers from chapters across the country reminded me just how powerful this community is. These are future leaders doing incredible things, and getting to share space with them for four days was genuinely inspiring.
The professionals I connected with were equally impressive. Real conversations, real advice, and real encouragement from people who have walked the path and are actively reaching back to pull others forward. Those interactions felt meaningful — the kind of connections you actually stay in touch with.
But if I had to pick the moments that truly sealed it for me, it was the last day events. The STEM Reunion afterparty, hosted by our very own chapter president along with a few other key NSBE professionals, was something I won’t forget. Throwback music, a packed dance floor, a little hot and cramped and none of us cared one bit. We danced like we had no idea what time it was, like one big family. It was a once in a lifetime experience and exactly the kind of joy that’s hard to put into words.
After the amazing STEM Reunion party came the STEM Reunion Brunch, which gave me the chance to slow down and really nurture the connections I had built throughout the week. Getting to sit with people, learn more about their journeys, and hear from those who had been a part of NSBE for decades — some with friendships that had spanned that long made me realize this isn’t just an organization. It’s a lifelong community. And I want to be a part of it for decades to come.
Four days in Baltimore flew by, and I came back to New York motivated and ready to show up differently. I’m already looking forward to getting more involved with NSBE NYC and NSBE as a whole, and doing my part to build the kind of community I got to experience firsthand at convention.
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