STEM Exploration Made Simple: A Student’s Guide to Getting Started
Written by Adrian, a high school senior and UPchieve volunteer tutor. We love sharing student voices to highlight the impact of peer mentors and future STEM leaders.
Getting Started
STEM can seem like a daunting field. Many people wonder where to start, what to study, and where it will lead. While it may look intimidating at first, it’s simpler than it seems. All it really takes is curiosity, time, and determination. With those, you can dive into exciting fields and build the skills that will take you far.
Skills You Need
STEM careers draw on many different skills, but one subject stands out: math. There are a lot of real-world applications with math, which is heavily used in a lot of STEM fields. Many people think that only advanced math topics, such as Calculus, matter for getting into the STEM fields, but classes as early as Algebra 1 lays the foundation for future success. Math connects directly to other classes too. Algebra reappears in Physics, and the problem-solving habits you build carry into Chemistry, Biology, and beyond. In short, a strong math foundation is the key to building your STEM journey.
Where to Learn
There are so many resources to explore STEM topics outside of class:
UPchieve: A free, 24/7 online tutoring platform that connects you with volunteers who can answer your questions one-on-one. Whether it’s homework, test prep, or just a quick math concept, UPchieve tutors are there to guide you.
Coursera: Offers hundreds of free courses from top universities. For example, UC Irvine’s Internet of Things (IoT) specialization walks you through multiple courses with the option to earn certificates — a great way to explore specific interests in depth.
YouTube: Beyond entertainment, it’s packed with educational content in nearly every STEM field. It’s a great place to find explanations, experiments, and real-world applications of concepts you’re learning.
All of these tools can help you build knowledge at your own pace and explore what excites you most. But for everyday guidance and quick support, UPchieve is a perfect starting point.
Apply What You Learn
Learning STEM is only half the process; the other half is applying it. A great place to start is by signing up for STEM-related clubs in your school.
Look for opportunities in:
Robotics
Science Olympiad
Math Olympiad
Coding clubs
HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America)
From my experience, joining my high school’s robotics team has been one of the most valuable parts of my STEM journey. Each year, we design and build a robot to complete a specific task. This has been a really fun experience for me because it allows our team to apply problem-solving skills, work together to derive solutions, and communicate, which I believe will certainly benefit us in the long run. For instance, one year we had to build a robot that shot rings into a box high up to score points, which was a very interesting challenge because it made us consider and apply many factors such as the angle we needed to shoot, the speed we needed the ring to go to get there, and many other things that we learned in physics and math classes but never expected to use in real life.
Final Thoughts
Learning STEM through these methods doesn’t just give you a head start; it also lets you explore, experiment, and appreciate the different sides of STEM that you don’t always get from a textbook. Plus, it’ll give you a chance to see if this is a career path you’re really going to enjoy before you go to college.
About the Author
Adrian, Class of 2026, is pursuing a STEM career. As the engineering lead on his school’s robotics team, he has taught himself various engineering skills. Now, he brings that same passion to UPchieve, where he tutors math and science to students across the country.