STEM – Is the Study Worth it?

First off, people may be familiar with the term STEM but might not know what it means, it is the grouping of the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. People are taught while growing up that they should have a job in STEM. This article is here to see if people should actually be studying towards a career in the STEM field. As in how long one should study for compared to how much they would get paid in an average job in that field. If one should stay in this field or start looking for opportunities in another.

 

Based on research from Southern New Hampshire University they have found that,  “Whether or not you want to pursue a STEM job after graduation, a degree in this area can still be an asset in your future job search as a result of the skills that you develop. When you pursue a degree in this field, you’re not limited to a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. While you’ll be well prepared for one of these fields after graduation, the STEM skills that you’ll develop through your studies will equip you for success in any field.

For example, due to the integration of computers and software across a variety of workplaces, having a background in technology can be very appealing to a future employer. In fact, BLS projects that computer and technology occupations will grow 13% between 2020-2030. A STEM-related degree can take you in a number of directions.” This information has said that a degree in the STEM field is worth the study by helping people get into any other job better and more people have been using their degrees to get a job in technology.

 

When interviewing people many things were said about STEM, all positive. In the interview with Corrina Cramer, they were asked what sparked their creativity in STEM, and responded with, “It’s like a puzzle, you get to figure out how it works.” Also, upon being asked what advice they had for people who planned to go into this field, she answered, “Take all the math classes you can, everyone will hit a wall in their learning, get through the wall and the rest of school should be easy.” All of these questions were put on the M part of STEM but everything in STEM ties to another thing inside of it.

 

Research from The National Inventors Hall of Fame stated, “STEM-based education teaches children more than science and mathematics concepts. The focus on hands-on learning with real-world applications helps develop a variety of skill sets, including creativity and 21st-century skills.

21st-century skills include media and technology literacy, productivity, social skills, communication, flexibility and initiative. Other skills attained through STEM education include problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, curiosity, decision making, leadership, entrepreneurship, acceptance of failure and more. Regardless of the future career path considered by these children, these skill sets go a long way to preparing them to be innovative.” So, people will learn skills that will help in the real world through studying STEM and its properties.

 

Another interview about STEM had occurred with a teacher named Ashlee Golding, they were also asked what sparked their interest in the area of STEM, they responded with, that they loved the problems and solving them with cells and wildlife. With the next question of, do you have any advice for anyone who plans to go into this field, they responded with, “I would advise people to stay curious and to not limit their options.” Again, another person was with the idea of STEM, and same with Cramer they said they liked the problems and solving them.

With all of this information people would be able to see that going into a STEM field would help and is beneficial in the long run. All people that were questioned about this have said or mentioned in some way that STEM is a good idea and students should learn. This still applies even if they go into a different field. Now the next question is, if people are to go into the field of STEM what occupation should they work for? Well, that’s up to the people but, some are more paying than others.