What education path would be best for someone who wants to go into stem?

Hi Sophie,

There are so many different ways to go into STEM. Sometimes you know exactly what you want to study but sometime you don’t and that is totally okay. STEM is a journey and many of the great discoveries will happen in your lifetime. You might work in one field of STEM like medicine or engineering and be a huge fan of another field space or oceanography. I work in technology for a tech company. I had lots of mentors and friends along the way that used all the ideas listed below to go into STEM careers. STEM is a career that requires lifelong learning and a love of learning. You are constantly discovering new things!!!

What is STEM?

STEM includes four major fields of study: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. There are thousands of careers that combine one or more of these fields. So how do you learn about STEM and what educational path is the best for someone who wants to go into STEM? Here are some ways:

Be curious!

First be very curious about how the world works. Try to learn something new about STEM every day and challenge yourself to look up a fact or tell a friend about what you read or saw. I just found out there are pink dolphins in the Amazon River!!! What amazing fact will you learn today? Perform experiments yourself: which falls faster, a pen or a ball?…then look up “gravity”. The US has a long history of citizen scientists. Check out: George Washington Carver, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Kalpana Chawla to name just a few. There are so many totally amazing role models in STEM.

How Do I Learn STEM?

So try to take these subjects - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math - in school and junior college. Work with your teachers or advisors to figure out exactly what course you need. It is never too late. The great thing about STEM is that it is always there for you – meaning if you need to take an extra class or go to the library or look online there are wonderful sites to learn about STEM. Help kids younger than you learn about STEM. The more you teach a subject, the better you understand it yourself.

What sites can help me learn about new technologies?

1)     Verizon STEM: https://www.verizon.com/about/careers and

https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/verizon-innovative-learning

2)     Khan Academy offers free online courses. The more you learn and review, the more you will know: https://www.khanacademy.org/

3)     National Geographic: be inspired and learn as much as you can about the world: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/

Where can I go to practice my STEM skills?

Science/Biology – work with your science teacher or local community college on a nature project. Ask your local companies of chamber of commerce if they offer tours or if someone could speak to your class. Start a school/community garden. Observe insects or count birds in your area.

Medicine – Volunteer at your local hospital or clinic. Work with your school on projects that promote good health or nutrition. How can you make your community healthier?

Technology - build a radio or a mini robot. Try programming or coding. Build a computer.

Engineering – look at the industries in your area. Invite an engineer to your school or start an engineering club. Build a smaller scale model of a bridge or building that looks interesting to you.

Math – Start a Math or physics club at your school. Consider tutoring younger kids at your school. Start a space club. Organize a star party with your local astronomy club.

These are just a few ideas. If you can think of some others, go ahead and add them below :) .

This is an amazing field and so many interesting people who work in STEM. I hope you will learn everything you can about STEM and consider a STEM career.