Hope For the Future w/ Rasha Alqahtani
November 9, 2021
Hosted by Chris Meek
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Information
Episode Description
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 women pursuing a career or already immersed in the world of STEM.
Next Steps Forward
Tuesday at 10 AM Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Empowerment Channel
Personal empowerment, commitment to our own well-being and the motivation to achieve more than we ever thought possible are the ingredients of a better life. And, they’re all within our reach. Next Steps Forward with Chris Meek delves into each aspect of the three keys that add energy, excitement, direction and purpose to everything that we do.
Each week, Chris hosts leaders from the worlds of business, sports, entertainment, medicine, politics and public policy as they engage in thought-provoking discussions to help us all take the next step forward on our own journeys to our better selves and greater service to others. Next Steps Forward with Chris Meek is an informative, uplifting hour every Tuesday at 1 PM Eastern Time and 10 AM Pacific Time on the VoiceAmerica Empowerment Channel that’s certain to inspire you to take that important next step forward, too.
Chris Meek
Chris Meek believes in the American spirit of individual empowerment and service to others, especially those who have sacrificed for our freedoms. As someone who lived through the horrors of Ground Zero on 9/11, Chris had no way home but to join others as they put one foot in front of the other to make their way forward. Since that day, Chris has committed himself to empowering and motivating fellow Americans to keep taking steps forward, no matter what life throws their way.
Chris has spent the last decade serving as the co-founder and chairman of the national nonprofit SoldierStrong, which is dedicated to helping military veterans take their next steps forward. SoldierStrong carries out its mission by providing revolutionary medical technology to VA medical centers, including exoskeleton suits to help paralyzed veterans walk again and virtual reality equipment to help treat post-traumatic stress.
He also serves as an advisor on the President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) task force. In this role, he shares a responsibility to raise awareness about mental health, facilitate research and define a plan to prevent suicide. In 2020, Chris launched ReachStrong, a nonprofit aimed at empowering all Americans to care for their overall well-being. Chris is also a financial services executive at S and P Global, Inc, in New York City. He and his wife, Christine, have three children.
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