STEM Styles: Something for Every Learner

Evolving STEM programs expose students to the wows, what-ifs and wonders that hook them on hands-on, curiosity-based experiences.

Bea Hardacre wasn’t exactly sure what area of study she would pursue — but if she could spend every moment of every day outdoors, she would. “I love being outside and I’m passionate about making sure there is sustainable, accessible healthy access to the outdoors,” says the 17-year-old rising senior at Hawken School.

Climate change is real, Hardacre says. She sees it every day and wants future generations to get the mud-puddle, hike-the-woods, explorative experiences she has enjoyed since she was young.

So, she dove into the school’s three-semester STEMM (Science Technology Engineering Math & Medicine) program “to try it out,” she says. “I thought it would be a good taster to see if it’s something I’m interested in.”

What she learned about herself, she never expected.

For one, failing is tough.

“It’s hard to come to terms with going through so many rounds of failure to get a success and that can be hard to comprehend,” Hardacre says. “There were days of failed experiments where one variable needed to