As we have seen, times like this are challenging for a number of people and have interrupted plans in the worst possible ways. In saying this, I wanted to highlight the need for what is dubbed as essential workers. Many considered to be an essential worker are in more than one way involved in STEM practices of some kind. This goes for students studying to go into these fields as well and the universities taking numerous levels of precautions to keep these young scholars safe.

Several of the students I interviewed commented on how these times have been difficult for them, but also explaining that they still are doing their best to be involved in their focuses on campus. This support also comes outside of classes and instructors, from various clubs, student organizations, and extracurriculars. Not only do extracurriculars on campus provide options to further students’ interests in certain areas, but it also provides a network that they can rely on throughout the entirety of their college experience and carry into their chosen career paths too. At the beginning of this most recent fall semester, these students all described to me during their interviews that gaining experience in the workforce associated with their career will better prepare them. Christian Browning explained, “Grades are just one part of it…It’s about how you respond to real situations instead of being placed in simulations.”

STEM is a constantly growing and expanding field which requires a lot of its participants to become literate with the technology and tools used to produce results and gather data. For many prospective STEM students, the access to knowing what these resources are is not always clearly laid out. For Josi Tesauro, she felt like geosciences would be an interesting career to explore from volunteering at the Headwaters at the Comal in New Braunfels, Texas. During the summer before her first year at Trinity University, she volunteered in one of there many programs where she would identify and catalogue native plant species. She was able to label these plants through an app called INaturalist, which allows the users access to a network of researchers that help them identify plants based on their location. Once she was recommended by the Headwaters supervisors, she explained that the app was fairly simple to use, suggesting that if anyone has an interest in identifying flora in their area, it can be an extremely useful tool. Josi believed her volunteer experience at a nonprofit like the Headwaters will better prepare her for doing more research-based projects by getting her acquainted with tools to make her experience more organized.

Bailey Plummer also was able to see more of her field of interest by shadowing her aunt, who is a physical therapist in Colorado. Not only did she have the chance to observe her aunt’s work, but also colleagues that worked close. She also shadowed therapists who visited hospitals like the Colorado Children’s Hospital, where she witnessed them working in an environment that housed so many other health service specialists and workers. Bailey said, “I was introduced to different settings than what I expected. I had no idea that as a therapist my schedule has the possibility of being flexible.” From seeing mentors go about their daily work, she considered this experience to be so much more valuable than studying from a textbook.

As students and staff come together to make learning more productive in STEM, it’s good to reach out to student support groups on your campus if you ever feel that you’re in a slump during your semester. STEM students, you are not alone in the struggles you go through. TLU students especially, if you would like to become involved or find an organization to support your academic and social pursuits, definitely reach out to B.S.U., Black Student Union, or M.A.S.A., Mexican American Student Association. You can contact them on Instagram at : @tlubsu and @tlumasa to find out more about events and activities.