Storytellers are at the heart of the unCommission. Hear directly from young people across the United States about their personal experience with STEM learning.
The following is a small sampling of what we are hearing through the unCommission and will be updated frequently. From these stories, we will distill insights and develop a constellation of goals to transform STEM education.
Going Full Circle
Brianna (she/her/hers), 29, Arizona
"I have always been 'good at math' because I had phenomenal timing in terms of getting all the good teachers."
My Experience with Math
Bradley (he/him/his), 26, Pennsylvania
"I was ahead a subject in math, and I remember distinctively being asked if I was in the right room every start of the semester, whether by students, or by the teacher, or both."
Erin (she/her/hers), 19, Maryland
"Dr. Hatcher built up my confidence as a woman in STEM, and her encouraging words continue to echo from my mouth as I mentor those coming after me."
Marissa (she/her/hers), 23, Utah
"I was confused at first because I knew I wasn't doing well in his class, but he turned to me and said, 'All I ask is for my students to do their best, math is hard, and learning to figure out problems comes with time, but only if you are willing to put in the effort.'"
KFC's Funeral Day
Iago (he/him/his), 14, New York
"I realized that science was not just the subject taught in my Living Environment class. Instead, science had relevance in all areas of knowledge, even ancient history!"
From Underdog to Optometry
Jose (he/him/his), 24, Ohio
"My experience through STEM started with an immigrant single mother, working hard in fields of produce, building a care home with her bare hands, pursuing a life of changing lives and a better chance at giving me the opportunities that she never had."
My Leadership Field Trip at UT Explore
Cristella (she/her/hers), 22, Texas
"I had never been so excited about science before, and I had so many questions. So, I made it my mission to return."
Senou's Story: Coding Melodies
Senou (he/him/his), 17, Arizona
"I think one thing that really stuck with me from that experience was how STEM isn't only science, technology, engineering, and math doesn't only stay within science, technology, engineering and math."
Bailey's Story
Bailey (she/her/hers), 26, Idaho
"It made me feel like, 'Oh, I don't belong here,' you know, like, 'Oh, that's not what science is.' And so I hid that part of myself for a really long time."
Female Neuroscientist Growing Up in Rural Oklahoma
Morgan (she/her/hers), 23, Oklahoma
"When you grow up like that, you're sent a lot of messages about what a scientist can be, and told that it definitely can't be you. I'm here to tell you that you're exactly who science needs right now."
The Unremarkable Honorable Mention
Jefferson (he/him/his), 27, California
"I didn't think our project looked nearly presentable enough and it seemed foolish. Nonetheless I put the project out."
What and Why is Math
Emma (she/her/hers), 28, Illinois
"I failed my first test in the 5th grade and cried in front of everyone. I excelled everywhere else but could never fully grasp mathematical concepts."
Have a question? Email unCommission@100Kin10.org