How Businesses Can Empower Students To "Go Pro" In STEM
Chris Moore is CEO of FIRST, a global community preparing young people 4-18 for the future through inclusive, team-based robotics programs.
Every spring, Americans watch with great interest as their favorite college basketball teams vie for an NCAA March Madness Tournament berth: In 2024, the men's tournament averaged nearly 9.9 million viewers per game, and the women's championship game crushed previous viewership records when it peaked at 24 million viewers. Sports are a huge part of American culture, in which professional athletes are lauded for their talent, captivating their audiences and uniting communities of fans. Becoming a professional athlete is a dream for countless young people, many of whom aspire to follow in the footsteps of stars like Tom Brady or Serena Williams. However, while these young people strive toward the high-profile greatness of the big leagues, the number who actually go on to play professionally is minuscule, with just 2% of NCAA student athletes reaching that status. On the flip side, every young person has the potential to carve out a meaningful, successful future for themselves in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Not only is 'going pro' in STEM beneficial for students' long-term job and financial prospects, but growing the pool of qualified professionals is critical for business. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that STEM occupations will grow by 10.4% from 2023 to 2033, while non-STEM occupations are only projected to grow by 3.6%. With this rapid rise in STEM opportunities, investing in STEM education and career paths is crucial for meeting the demand for skilled professionals. By supporting STEM growth and exposure from a young age, businesses can help the next generation flourish and build a talent pipeline that leads right to their front doors. Here's how:
To help young people reach their potential, supportive adults and the business community need to work together to drive excitement about these subjects from young ages. One solution is in the framing: When learning is positioned like a sport and models distinct roles, collaboration and competition, it can excite young people and drive participation. Transforming education into hands-on opportunities through mediums like youth robotics programs—which often include competition, problem-solving and team-based elements—can allow students to see it as a sport in its own right. Businesses can support youth STEM extracurricular clubs and teams as they would any other sports team by providing them with funding, in-kind donations and coaching.
While young Americans will always admire professional athletes, they can also be inspired by STEM pioneers like Grace Hopper and Steve Jobs. Not to mention, STEM role models do not have to be of the celebrity type: They can be everyday doctors, engineers or inventors in whom a young person can see themselves. Businesses can help create this inspiration—and bolster their talent pools—by encouraging employees to speak with or volunteer in local STEM classrooms. One approach is to encourage employee mentorship by providing dedicated volunteer hours and tying their participation to performance reviews or bonuses. Additionally, companies can offer internships or factory tours designed to mimic the excitement of sports training camps, creating immersive, hands-on experiences that make technical fields feel dynamic and aspirational.
A career in sports usually does not offer a lot of versatility because of the high degree of specialization required. STEM learning, however, is not one-size-fits-all. It is an educational chameleon that lets young people pursue their passions and apply them in many ways. In my experience, when students build a solid STEM foundation in elementary, middle and high school, they are set up to do anything they want once they reach college and the working world. From programming and engineering to lighting design and graphic arts, all roads lead back to STEM. Young people need early exposure to these careers to understand not only that they are within reach, but how to get there. Whether it's participating in career days, speaking to classrooms or helping coach STEM extracurriculars, creating connections between professionals and students is a great way to illustrate how STEM opens career doors.
Every student has the potential to "go pro" in STEM if they receive the encouragement, resources and championing to get them there. The business community can make all the difference in helping students chart their futures. If we can ring in a new wave of interest and passion for science and technology, as well as ignite a desire within the next generation to make a positive impact in the world, I believe we can all have a little more hope for a brighter future.
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