STEM is evolving with every new generation, becoming more advanced and needed as we move forward as a society. The word STEM is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, which are all essential parts of our daily lives. All of these are highly useful skills to learn and can be helpful in everyday life in the future. STEM represents important fields that young people should learn about to help move our world forward and promote innovation.
Math is the most known out of the four parts because of how much of it is used in everyday life. Most jobs require some sort of mathematic skill to properly perform the duties of the position. Science is another popular subject and is important to our society, as it helps to solve problems improves our daily quality of life. As technology and engineering continues to advance, education in these fields should be constant. To prepare the young people for the future, there should be an increase in the number of STEM programs available in the schools. It’s important to prepare the new generation for the future workforce by not only teaching math and science, but also explaining the importance and benefits of engineering and technology.
Young people should also know that a career in STEM does not only help society, but it can also be a personal and professional benefit. According to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), their data from 2019 showed that the STEM workforce only represented 23% of the total U.S. workforce. However, unemployment was lower among those within the STEM labor workforce and those in STEM fields had higher median earnings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that more than 800,000 new openings within the STEM field will become available. With this in mind, STEM should be an important part of the next generation’s education.
STEM-based education offers hands-on learning, combined with real-world application, and also helps to develop creativity. Providing these programs in schools will help young people to get excited for the future and ready to make a difference.
This is the fourth in a series of stories created by Trenton high school students who participated in the "Telling Your Trenton Story" workshop created by the Trenton Journal and Isles Youth Services. Special thank you to Stacy Heading, After School and Outreach Manager for Isles Youth Institute and the Trenton Free Public Library.
