Knock, Knock. Who's there? STEM!

"This is not grade 13."
These were the first words of Dr. Thomas Calhoun Jr., the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at UNA. College is not just grade 13. It's not just more school. It's not just more learning, more classes, more homework, more studying. College is a hallway of doors to our future, with each door holding a unique opportunity. And with each opportunity is a new experience and a new perspective waiting for us; it's ours so long as we choose to open that door.

There are some doors that stay closed and grow old with only a few individuals daring enough to enter. The path to these doors is one less taken. But these doors do not hold a lesser opportunity for experience or perspective than what is behind the other doors. In fact, these doors give individuals the opportunity to advance medicine, improve air pollution, or even be the next Einstein. Yes, you guessed it: behind these doors is science. Specifically STEM learning: science, technology, engineering, and math. Less than 20% of all degrees in the United States are in STEM subjects. But why? There is so much opportunity in STEM learning, so many experiences to be had and perspectives to be seen.

Maybe you had a bad teacher. Maybe you got a bad grade. Maybe this class took studying and you were giving up too much of your weekend. Maybe you were being different and you opened the door less taken. Maybe you were afraid. People get discouraged. It's just how we are. We want constant encouragement and get defeated when something doesn't go the way we plan. Sciences and math take a whole lot of patience and studying. And it's a whole lot of patience and studying we don't want to give. It's hard and we don't want to fail. When you are going to fail, there's no point in trying.

There is not no point in anything. Yes, I know, crazy double negatives, but here's the deal... Every door, every opportunity, opens up a new experience and a new perspective. We are affected by every choice we make. Whether it's positive or negative is our choice. It's all based on our attitudes. Never turn down an opportunity, never leave a door closed. Look at everything with an open mind and you'll have a familiar hallway before you rather than a million closed doors.

Now as you probably know, I'm a STEM major, but I'm not saying everyone should go take all STEM classes and get degrees in STEM. I'm just saying it's an option. It's an option that most people avoid. It's a door they avoid, a door they completely throw away the key for. This is not just grade 13. STEM is not just another class. It's an experience. It's a perspective. Don't keep the door locked. Open it and give it a chance. Maybe something amazing will happen.