How Daishon Nelson helps Detroit youth discover STEM through Tech On-Ramps program

The first day of high school brings an array of emotions: excitement, anxiety, uncertainty, self-confidence mixed with self-doubt. There's no denying it's a major milestone and a wellspring of new opportunities. But for Daishon Nelson - as well as tens of millions of high school students around the country - the first day of high school started not in bustling hallways and classrooms, but at home, alone, behind a screen.

The COVID-19 pandemic upended the high school experience, limiting opportunities for students to build friendships and explore their interests in a shared physical atmosphere. It forced Nelson and his peers to reimagine this transformative period of life.

In a search for connection and guidance in daunting times, Nelson found his way to Grow Detroit's Young Talent (GDYT), a citywide youth employment and development program that provided mentorship, professional growth opportunities and a community of peers reaching out for connection in a distanced world.

"GDYT gave me an opportunity to interact with people in a way I hadn't been able to up to that point because of COVID and social distancing," Nelson said. "It was my introduction to a group of people my age going through similar circumstances."

Today, Nelson is a sophomore electrical and computer engineering student at Wayne State University and a tech coach with Tech On-Ramps, a workforce development program within the Irvin D. Reid Honors College. Now in its fifth year, Tech On-Ramps is a partnership among Wayne State, Rocket Community Fund and GDYT that introduces Detroit high school students to coding, emerging technologies, professional development and STEM career pathways. The program pairs students with Wayne State student coaches and industry professionals, creating opportunities for hands-on learning, mentorship and career exploration.

For Nelson, the role is an opportunity to give back and help create the same sense of support and connection that helped shape his own path.

Discovering the value of mentorship

As a high schooler, GDYT was initially a way for Nelson to build skills and connect with others during the pandemic. But it quickly became a formative experience, led by adults and peers who encouraged him to think intentionally about his goals, identity and future.

"The first week, there was an exercise where we talked about our personal brand: what interests us, what makes us who we are, how we wanted to be viewed," he said. "That laid a foundation for me. I started thinking more about how I wanted to be perceived, and that helped me identify what I could work on within myself that would help me project and embody that. I had never done an exercise like that, and it really got me to think deeply."

Through GDYT, Nelson built relationships with mentors whose guidance continues to influence him. Among them were members of the Detroit Police Department, who helped shape his approach to decision-making and introduced him to career paths he hadn't previously considered.

That sense of mentorship and community stayed with Nelson long after GDYT ended. As he prepared for college, he was drawn to opportunities that allowed him to support other young people navigating their own educational and career journeys. The lessons he learned through GDYT continue to guide how he connects with students today.

"Being part of the youth that these kinds of programs are designed to help taught me a lot," he said. "When I got the chance to apply to Tech On-Ramps as a summer tech coach, I already knew how I wanted to connect with students and help build a sense of community based on the experiences I had."

Bringing mentorship full circle

As a summer tech coach within Tech On-Ramps, Nelson works with Detroit high school students to advance the program's mission of helping students build technical skills, professional confidence and connections to future STEM opportunities. Throughout the summer, Tech On-Ramps participants work with Wayne State student coaches while learning coding, presentation skills and professional etiquette. Students also gain exposure to college pathways and careers in technology through mentorship and hands-on activities.

For Nelson, being a tech coach feels especially meaningful because it reminds him of his own journey.

"Thinking back to starting GDYT, I knew what it was like to step into a new environment and wanting to be part of something productive," he said. "I knew what it felt like to maximize an opportunity and find something you could learn and carry with you throughout your life."

As a coach, Nelson spends his days helping students develop their tech skills, such as coding, digital arts and more. At the same time, he works with students to help them refine the "softer" skills they'll need to grow their networks, persuade and encourage others, and serve as leaders.

Just as important, Nelson sees Tech On-Ramps as an opportunity to expose students to STEM pathways earlier than he was exposed to them.

"I didn't have a proper introduction to STEM before deciding my major and coming to college," he said. "In this role I can give students insight into the kinds of things they might encounter and some of the foundational skills they'll need to learn. It makes a big difference and gives them a huge head start."

But Nelson said some of the most meaningful conversations happen outside the classroom. As students begin thinking about college and future careers, many turn to him for advice.

"The students going off to college ask me a lot of questions beyond the tech side of things. I'm lucky enough to be able to share what I've learned and help alleviate whatever worries or uncertainties they're facing."

Nelson says these interactions are some of the most rewarding parts of being a coach.

"I get to see firsthand the changes in how these students carry and present themselves. I see the exact moment their faces brighten when they start to understand something new."

Helping students see new possibilities

For Nelson, moments like that demonstrate how mentorship and industry exposure can help students see new possibilities and pursue paths they may not have otherwise considered.

"Last year, I had an intern tell me he was going to pursue engineering at the end of the program. That was such a meaningful validation of all the work we did," Nelson said. "Having a setting where you not only get to teach and develop others, but also learn new things yourself while impacting your community, sharpening your skill set and building connections, creates benefits that are hard to capture in words. But it's impossible not to feel."

Nelson's experience also reflects a larger goal shared by Wayne State, Rocket Community Fund and GDYT: help more Detroit students see a future for themselves in STEM fields by making STEM more accessible and more visible early in students' journeys.

So far, that approach has paid off - Nelson's story being just one example of many. Since launching in 2020, Tech On-Ramps has connected more than 120 Detroit Public Schools Community District students with 62 Honors College mentors. Taken together, the program strengthens the pipeline of local talent entering college and Michigan's growing technology workforce while cultivating community and connection.

The first lesson Nelson remembers from his time in GDYT was an exercise that challenged him to think about who he wanted to become. Years later, as a Tech On-Ramps coach, he now helps students ask these same questions for themselves.

"Everyone serves themselves best when they have guidance to follow, because it provides structure and a goal that you can see yourself accomplishing," Nelson said. "I've seen that if I can connect with young people I've never seen before, build this community and teach them and have them rely on me as a mentor, then I feel like I can do anything."

Learn more about Tech On-Ramps.

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