Hope For the Future w/ Rasha Alqahtani

Eighteen-year-old Rasha Alqahanti sits down with Next Forward Host Chris Meek to speak about the video game software she is developing within the setting of the ever popular Minecraft game which she designed to help her peers learn about their anxiety and access mental health. Rasha - third place recipient of the 2021 Regeneron International Science and Engineering behavioral science award, Mawhiba alumni member, and public speaker - will provide an inside look into how the video game specifically seeks to address the problems of stigma and inaccessibility that impede young teens from seeking out the mental health care they may need. With a maturity beyond her years mixed with both intense passion and thoughtfulness, Rasha will provide her perspective on what it is like being a female in STEM, why she believes receiving a diagnosis is a crucial step for overall mental health, and a glimpse into the anxiety that she experienced as a student trying to maintain an A+ status. This is a must-listen not only for other teenagers who are also struggling with anxiety due to the demands and pressures of their education but also for women pursuing a career or already immersed in the world of STEM.