STEM scares many students because it is perceived as being too difficult and – tragically – boring. Clear up the misconceptions and check out these benefits of a STEM education.
The truth is that STEM encompasses the most engaging, hands-on subjects in our schools. Strong STEM skills lead to more beautiful art, more engrossing performances, and more polished productions.
STEM classes develop those soft skills that so many careers need, and so many students lack – skills like communication, problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and data analysis.
In fact, non-STEM fields heavily recruit graduates with STEM degrees because they possess these skills that students from other majors have not developed.
Here are some other benefits of a STEM education you may have never considered:
1. It helps you stay current.
In a technology-based society, technology is forever changing. It’s also used in almost every aspect of our lives. As work places change with updated software, and office equipment and machinery become more advanced, STEM knowledge is vital. Keeping up with technology, not the Kardashians, is incredibly important.
2. It allows you to be innovative.
Someone created an app that allows you to take a picture of a piece of clothing and finds similar looks throughout the web.
Just think of the latest device you have in your hand or at the top of your wish list. STEM helps to transform new ideas into the best inventions.
3. It helps you make a difference.
Building that shelter, finding that cure, inventing the best way for people to communicate, or helping people overcome financial obstacles makes a huge difference – and with a STEM education, you can make that happen.
4. It fosters – and benefits from – creativity.
Creativity is one of the many benefits of a STEM education.
Ironically, creativity is also the result of a STEM education! According to the NYTimes, James Michael Leake, director of engineering graphics at the University of Illinois, said that learning to make even rudimentary drawings is critical to development as an engineer. Design can help students understand how to effectively use the space within the structure.
5. It can get you a job in the beauty industry.
Without new innovative products hitting the shelves constantly, brands such as Covergirl and L’Oreal will not stay current and may lose business. This creates a lot of new opportunities for scientists to break into this industry. Just think – a product you design or create could help people feel more confident and comfortable in their own skin.
“STEM scares most young people today because it gets mistaken for being too challenging and most importantly, boring. And when people look at the older gentlemen across the room who chose the STEM path wearing a frown, everything negative about STEM becomes true and they say, “That cannot be me.”
Seriously?!
STEM only scares ignorant people. Most young people I know are truly excited about STEM because they LIVE it. This is the generation born with cell phones in their hands and raised on iPads (instead of books), so STEM can not be “boring.” The only “scary” thing about STEM is Common Core mathematics. YOUR STEM fears will subside once you face the fact that there is NO SHORTCUT to learning and understanding mathematical concepts. Become STEM-literate and OWN the future.
We’re so glad that the young people you know are excited about STEM! That’s fantastic! Unfortunately, there are many students who are led to believe that STEM is boring or way too hard. We just wanted to set the record straight about how fantastic STEM subjects are and the amazing things that STEM skills can allow students to do.
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If we are to Develop our economies and sustain the development trajectory STEM is what the doctor has prescribed…. the innovation, creativity it brings will bring nations to apex of Glory.
I am a stem student. But it is not “scary” like the other people said. But its fun because its challenging. You can learn things you did’nt learn yet ever since you are in highschool. It is really helpful to take stem strand if you wanted to be an good Engineer or Doctor someday. Its up to you if you can bare with the subjects given in the stem strand. As long as teachers have also to teach us based on what we should learn. For me as a Grade 11 student here in the Philippines. I can say that taking up stem is not “scary” but “challenging.”
can i get an certificate under stem strand?