Sal Varela, a MESA alum and longtime volunteer, recently accepted to join the MESA Industry Advisory Board.
We asked Sal a few questions.
Tell us your MESA Story
I am originally from the East Bay – Oakland, CA and attended middle school in Hayward, California. One day, a STEM director pulled me and five other students out of class to tell us about a MESA engineering summer program at UC Berkeley. At the time, I knew very little about engineering, but I was fascinated by robotics and aviation, so I decided to give it a try.
That summer, I hopped on BART every morning to attend the MESA engineering program at UC Berkeley. There, I took introductory engineering courses and learned about the many different engineering disciplines. Before then, I had no idea there were so many career paths. My parents and family worked in construction and in the fields of California's Central Valley. As a first-generation student, the world of engineering and a university like UC Berkeley felt completely unfamiliar.
For the first time, I learned about mechanical, civil, electrical, aerospace, and other engineering fields. MESA opened my eyes to opportunities I never knew existed, and that experience was the moment I realized I wanted to become an engineer.
How did MESA impact your education and career?
MESA was my first exposure to engineering. More importantly, it introduced me to teachers and mentors who came from backgrounds similar to mine. It showed me that a career in STEM was possible.
I went on to attend Stanford University, where I earned a BS degree in engineering and interned each summer at AT&T. After graduating from Stanford, I joined the AT&T as a full time engineer, designing Internet service provider infrastructure. Looking back, MESA gave me more than an introduction to engineering, it gave me the confidence to believe I belonged in math, science, and engineering. That confidence allowed me to pursue opportunities and compete in a highly competitive field.
How do you feel about being a MESA Industry Advisory Board member?
About five years ago, while working at Keysight Technologies, our team was looking for a community partner to engage with engineering students. Our goal was simple: "If you can see it, you can be it." We wanted students to meet engineers, hear real career stories, and gain practical advice about college, internships, and the engineering profession.
Through our partnership with MESA, our Keysight engineers shared their work, mentored students, and helped create internship opportunities. Serving on the MESA Industry Advisory Board has been a true full-circle moment for me.
I know what it's like to be a middle school student sitting in a MESA seminar, just trying to understand what an engineer actually does. I also know what it's like to attend Stanford's school of Engineering and build a career as an engineering professional for 20 years inside Silicon Valley. Being able to bridge those two worlds and help the next generation see what's possible is both an honor and a responsibility that I take seriously.