Life these days is busy, to say the least. With a 2-year-old running around, I find myself constantly on the go, moving from Play-Doh to building blocks to cars—all in a matter of minutes. Watching my son, Luca, discover new things, learn, and be silly is incredibly fun (and let’s be honest, tiring). And today, on National Techies Day, I also find myself thinking about what the future holds for him.
In recent months, Luca has started playing catch and kicking his mini soccer ball around our house. I can’t help but think about our future conversations. What once would have been a discussion about which sports or traditional extracurriculars (like drama or chess) he wanted to pursue in school, can now be so much broader. The prevalence of technology in our lives is opening doors to new areas of interest to explore. Thinking back to my own adventures in school, my choices felt narrow. Times have changed. My hope is for Luca to expand his horizons and explore opportunities I never even considered for myself – like joining a robotics team. Not because it’s a “better” option, but because I see lots of value in the skills he’ll learn, which could benefit him decades down the line.
The Current State of STEM
National Techies Day celebrates the technology industry as a whole and the people who work in the field. Created in 1999 by CNT Networks, the day is also intended to raise awareness about the STEM-related career opportunities young people can start thinking about at an early age.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects STEM jobs will grow four times faster than non-STEM occupations between 2023 and 2033. And while that’s a great thing, whispers of labor shortages and skills gaps within STEM careers persist. It’s unclear if there will be enough skilled workers in the U.S. to fill all those open positions. But it’s more important than ever to excite and engage the next generation.
And, according to the National Science Board, women filled just 18% of US STEM occupations in 2021. That’s one more thing for me to think about, besides all the ways STEM can play a role in Luca’s childhood development … Did I mention that I also have a daughter on the way?
Encouraging STEM and Technology for Young People
So, what can we do to encourage early interest in STEM-related careers? There are a lot of possibilities, but here are three things that really speak to me:
- Integrate technology early on: I used to laugh when I’d get daycare updates through our mobile app that described the skills Luca learned that day. Like how playing with magnetic tiles helped him improve his gross motor skills. But, I’ve grown to appreciate the fact that all these activities play an important role in my child’s development. And could be the start of a lifelong love of engineering and building. For kids a bit older than mine, supporting the integration of coding and computer science in schools is so important. The hands-on learning that K-12 students can have in science and technology is crucial to showing them the power of STEM as both a hobby and a career.
- Don’t underestimate the power of mentorship: Connecting students to mentors already working in the field is so important. This can be through informal 1:1 relationships with teachers or others in the student’s (or parents’) network, or via more formal group initiatives like the well-known Girls Who Code program.
- Meet young people where they are: The rise of social media has opened new avenues to reach school-age kids with STEM-focused content. Short video content, like what you find on YouTube and TikTok, continues to gain in popularity with this demographic. Companies focused on encouraging STEM careers should look at partnering with creators to showcase the value of things like coding or the folks within the industry. Translating why STEM matters in authentic ways, on the channels this audience prioritizes, is important.
My Own Tech Journey
Working in PR has immersed me in the world of technology for the better part of the last 15 years. While I may not be an engineer or technologist working on the latest updates, I like to think I’m in a “STEM-adjacent” role, where I get to bring stories to life about the innovators who are changing our world for the better. Storytelling is important in bringing awareness to all the tech industry has to offer. I’m lucky to have met so many inspiring people along my own journey.
Ultimately, Luca and my daughter may or may not end up in a STEM-focused career. But, thanks to daycare, school, and events like National Techies Day, they will get the exposure they need to make that decision for themselves. Oh, and they’ll get to hear all about their mom’s daily experiences in tech PR.