Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emily Cho. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Emily, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

I would change the education system by shifting the focus from memorization to practical learning that fosters critical thinking and adaptability. Additionally, I think it should be required for schools to teach teens the applications of knowledge, financial literacy, and interdisciplinary learning to better prepare students for their future lives. A major issue I’ve noticed is that students often leave high school, and some even college, without knowing how to manage their finances, navigate interpersonal relationships, or any knowledge on how to adapt to rapidly changing environments. A more experiential learning approach where students work on real problems and learn from failures that are more individual would far be beneficial than any score on standardized testings.

While working in correctional facilities, I’ve encountered many kids who had never been given hands-on experiences with science, but were extremely successful and engaged when we introduced them to engineering. It just showed me that potential gets wasted when the multi-dimensionality of education is reduced to just tests and books. Imagine how much more ahead in technology we would be if every student, regardless of background, had access to learning that was meaningful and connected. I guess in a much broader sense, I think that schools should try to focus on how to think, instead of what to think.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am the Founder and current CEO of Juvie for STEM (JSTEM), the largest youth-led technology non-profit dedicated to bringing STEM education to the underprivileged and incarcerated youth. Our mission is to eliminate educational disparities and pique career interests by providing them with hands-on learning experiences and mentorship. What makes JSTEM special is our focus on rehabilitation through education—we aim to reduce recidivism by giving young individuals the resources to succeed.

I was lucky to grow up in a very well-funded area where our education curriculum was very well curated. By high school, I have already had a decent amount of internship and volunteering experience as a result of my STEM interests. Thus, when I saw firsthand during my volunteer time in correctional facilities the lack of educational resources, I created JSTEM to work with juvenile detainees, introducing them to the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in an engaging, real-world way. Many of these kids have never been given opportunities to see themselves as scientists, engineers, or innovators, and I want to change that.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

One text that has influenced my perception is “Black Looks: Race and Representation” by bell hooks. While there are some controversial topics in this book, it made me think about my personal potential biases on representation, power structures, and how systemic issues play out. In relevance to JSTEM, it also reinforced my commitment to ensure JSTEM is built on equity, not just access.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

For most of my life—and I think this comes with my Asian ancestry—I believed that if I put in more effort, hours, and hustle, I would inevitably succeed. This mindset served me well in competitive physical games, where practice and endurance almost always directly correlated with better performance. It also has never failed me in my academic work. I think I hit a breaking point when working on JSTEM while juggling research, academics, and personal career ventures. Instead of making more progress, I found myself burning out and the quality of my work suffered. It’s cliché to say “Work smarter, not harder,” but it is true; success is knowing how to work strategically, prioritize impact, and knowing when to step back.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.juvieforstem.org/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyycho/