During her time at HIS, Prachi Sukhnani distinguished herself as a standout leader, representing HIS at various MUN conferences and ACAMIS competitions across Asia. Despite her extensive extracurricular commitments, she maintained a strong focus on her academic pursuits and always used her tech expertise to help out with school productions.
After graduating from HIS in 2018, she pursued an engineering degree at the University of Toronto and became a member of the University of Toronto Aerospace Team. Achieving her goal of becoming an engineer, she has now embarked on a successful career in the aerospace engineering industry. Prachi currently works as an Avionics Engineer at Rocket Lab in New Zealand, where she continues to make significant contributions to the field.
When did you attend HIS and how long were you here for?
I attended HIS from 2006 to 2012 and then again from 2015 to 2018, when I graduated, for a total of nine years.
Can you share more about your experiences and journey at HIS?
I started at HIS in Grade 2 when it was a small, growing school, and I got to grow alongside it. I left for a few years, living in Dubai and Nanjing, but I missed HIS and Hangzhou too much and had to come back.
International schools see people come and go, but HIS has never lost its tight-knit, familial community. That sense of belonging is truly special.
What are some of your favorite memories from your time at HIS? What are the things you miss the most?
Too many to count! Cozy Christmas movie days with hot chocolate in the original, red-carpeted auditorium, tossing my graduation cap across the playground where I used to play, and playing volleyball on the blue-top after lunch. I even remember skinning my knee on it back when it was the red-top!
I also remember the Invention Convention in Grade 5, all the hard work and care we put into West Lake MUN conferences, and representing HIS at various ACAMIS and MUN conferences.
Beyond that, I have fond memories of my teachers and the HIS community in general. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for all the teachers who saw potential in me and encouraged and guided me to grow in new and interesting ways.
What kind of CCA (Co-curricular Activities) did you join at HIS? How did these help you in university?
MUN was a huge part of my life from Grade 7 to Grade 12, shaping my leadership, public speaking, and problem-solving skills. It made me adaptable, detail-oriented, and eager to learn—traits that serve me well today.
I also participated in various sports teams like volleyball and basketball and attended a few ACAMIS conferences. All these experiences taught me resilience and teamwork.
After graduating, what university and programs did you attend? Did you feel well prepared for university?
I attended the University of Toronto, graduating in 2023 with a degree in Engineering Science with a major in Aerospace Engineering. My program gave me a broad engineering foundation before specializing in aerospace.
Since I enjoy hands-on work, some highlights include an aircraft design class where my team designed, built and flew a blended-wing body RC plane, and a space systems class where we designed a rover concept to collect scientific information about Mercury.
Outside of classes, I was deeply involved in the University of Toronto Aerospace Team’s satellite division. I took on technical leadership roles and contributed to two CubeSat spacecraft missions and saw one of them launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 in 2023.
For a year, I also interned at Sinclair Interplanetary by Rocket Lab in Toronto, gaining hands-on experience in spacecraft avionics and manufacturing.
Stepping into engineering is a transformative and challenging experience that nothing can truly prepare you for. However, HIS gave me the confidence to embrace learning and take on new challenges. That mindset carried me through the tough times.
What are you currently up to?
I’m a Space Systems & Avionics Engineer at Rocket Lab in New Zealand, working on satellite systems and reaction wheels:
- Satellites: I design spacecraft which help the world stay informed and connected. My role involves ensuring subsystems on the spacecraft can work together physically and electrically, assembling and testing them, and supporting them through their launch and beyond.
- Reaction Wheels: These are specialized components that precisely control how satellites rotate in space, and my amazing team manufactures thousands of wheels a year. My work involves supporting and improving the manufacturing line, experimenting with new ways to improve our design, and debugging our products.
I also provide commentary for Rocket Lab’s launch livestreams on YouTube! Our Electron (and in the future, Neutron) rockets launch frequently, and it’s an honor to share my passion for space with a global audience—a great way to put those MUN public speaking skills to use.
HIS’ focus on fostering well-rounded learners and effective communicators has made me a cross-disciplinary engineer, able to tackle challenges across systems, testing, manufacturing, mechanical, and electrical engineering.
What are your plans for the future?
To keep learning, designing, and building spacecraft that expand our knowledge of Earth and beyond. The sky isn’t the limit!
Looking back on your time as a Jade Dragon at HIS, what values or lessons do you still carry with you today?
Beyond the classes I took, HIS taught me to connect and collaborate with people from all over the world.
One of my core values is personal growth, and HIS nurtured my curiosity and gave me space and confidence to dive into new fields, whether in engineering, public speaking, photography, fitness, or learning new languages.
What advice would you give to current HIS students?
- Be curious and open to unexpected opportunities—the world has more in store for you than you can imagine.
- Be prepared to work hard and fail at times. Building resilience and adaptability as a learner will take you very far.
- Grades matter for university, but after that, experience and skills define your path—don’t tie your self-worth to numbers!
