Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Application

¶ … STEM does not refer to an abstract and vast area of study, but to the passions and interests of my ten-year-old son, who is so interested in STEM subjects that he finds the pace of learning aimed at most students his age to be tedious and uninteresting. The last thing I want, as a parent, is for him to lose the passion and interest he has in these topics.

Instead, I want him in an environment that will nurture that passion, encourage him to satisfy his curiosity, and share his passion with other students. STEM education is important to my child because he has a passion for innovation. From a very young age he took an interest in creating things. His hobbies have included Legos, building circuits, and computer programming. While traditional math and science courses provide the foundation that students need for success, they fail to offer students the ability to go beyond that foundation.

I fear that, without the opportunity to explore the exciting elements of STEM and the edges of his own capabilities, my child could be in danger of losing his interest in the STEM field. The last thing I want for him is for his passion to turn into something mundane, or, worse, to turn into something he dislikes. My son is also a good fit for the STEM education program.

While he has significant interests in STEM, he has other interests as well and could bring his experience from those activities to the STEM program. He has participated in a robotics program, a space camp, and a Java programming camp. He is also interested in music and was the all-county violin in the orchestra. He is involved in the French Team at his school. He is also involved in the Praise Team at his church.

As his activities suggest, he is a well-rounded young man who would bring a wide variety of experiences to the STEM program. More importantly, he can use that diversity to help show other students how STEM subjects relate to other.