Bringing STEM to Life: Lauren Lynde Reflects on a Summer of Creativity, Connection, and Career Exploration
This summer, Lauren Lynde joined the Wyoming Enrichment Network as a Summer STEM Mentor, working with young people at the Y.E.S. House, a nonprofit agency in Gillette that provides services to young people from 5 to 24 and their families. A rising junior at the University of Wyoming, Lauren is majoring in microbiology and planning to pursue a career in medicine. She brought curiosity, compassion, and creativity to her work. Her experience highlights the importance of youth voice, exposure to career pathways, and near-peer mentorship.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. But it’s much more than an acronym. STEM is a dynamic way of thinking and solving problems. It’s how we understand the natural world, design solutions for real-life challenges, and build the future.
Helping Young People See the Possibilities
From her own experiences growing up, Lauren knows how powerful it can be when adults open doors to career exploration. Her science teachers helped her to explore new ideas, shared their own career journeys, and encouraged her to think beyond the expected. “All my science teachers have been super instrumental,” she said. “They showed me all these different career paths within STEM.”
Lauren brings that same sense of possibility to her work with young people. She pointed to one example from early in her time at UW where a panel of microbiologists talked about what they did with their degree, including a brewery owner who applied his knowledge to the process of fermentation. She recalled thinking, “I am in this degree plan and not even I have not heard of this job.” She explained, “Exposure is the biggest thing. Almost every activity you do, you can link it to a job or a career. I hope that gives them ideas and shows them what’s out there.”
This emphasis on exposure to real-world opportunities is central to national efforts to expand STEM learning into out-of-school time (OST) programs. According to STEM Next, engaging youth in meaningful, hands-on STEM experiences helps spark interest and confidence. It opens doors to career pathways they may never have considered.
Family Resource Center Manager Susan Glanzer noticed how Lauren was able to bring STEM to life: “Lauren effectively applied a variety of STEM teaching strategies, including project-based learning, inquiry-based learning, and collaborative group engagement. She encouraged youth to ask questions, explore their work, and reflect on outcomes-promoting deeper understand and curiosity.”
When Youth Voice Leads, STEM Follows
Lauren believes that youth voice is a key ingredient in making STEM relevant and fun. She used anonymous feedback slips to help young people speak freely about the program and to solicit their ideas about what kind of activities they wanted to explore. “They kept saying they wanted more art and more ways to make things,” she said. So, Lauren added “Art” to STEM and designed hands-on STEAM projects that started with student interests and layered in scientific learning.
“Instead of starting with STEM and building an activity, I’ve tried to ask: what do they want to do and how can I bring STEM into it?”
One highlight of the summer was tie-dyeing t-shirts. Susan was impressed with the way Lauren was able to bring STEM front and center in this activity: “In her tie-dye T-shirt activity, Lauren guided youth through experimentation with dye saturation and taught principles of geometry by demonstrating how folding techniques influence symmetry and design. The project was not only fun but also educational, blending art and science seamlessly.”
The young people loved that it was a creative project and a science lesson. Download the instructions here! Lauren discovered that it was also a way to create something lasting. “One girl said, ‘Finally, a shirt that fits me,’ and they all put them on right away. They made something they could keep, even if they’re moving on to foster care or somewhere else.”
But working in an OST setting also came with challenges. Attendance can be irregular, and not every young person is available for every activity. “It was hard trying to make sure everyone got to do tie-dye. It reminded me how important it is to make sure they have the chance to create something themselves.”
Opening Doors Through Conversation and Creativity
The magic of hands-on activities, Lauren shared, is that they make space for conversation. “When you’re painting or doing something kind of mindless, people start opening up,” she said. One young person told Lauren she was having a hard day after speaking to her family. Other students shared excitement about a new job and plans for the next school year. One especially memorable moment happened when a teen started mixing colors in a beautiful and unexpected way.
“I told her, ‘Wow, that’s a really pretty color. I never would have thought to mix those.’ And she said, ‘Well, I kind of want to be a hairdresser.’ I told her, ‘You’d be so good at that—you’re so creative!’ And you could see her just light up.”
For Lauren, it was a reminder that STEM is everywhere. “Processing hair is chemistry,” she pointed out. The technical and science-based aspects of careers like cosmetology can be overlooked, but they offer a key to success.
Near-Peer Mentorship Builds Bridges
WYEN Program Associate Emily Vercoe shared STEM Next has been integral to the success of the Summer STEM Mentors program: “With the support of STEM Next, we have convened three cohorts of young people who built on their interest in STEM and youth development to make a difference to youth in summer programs across Wyoming.”
Lauren’s role as a near-peer mentor allowed her to bridge the gap between the young people and the adult staff at the Y.E.S. House. “The staff have been amazing, and I’ve learned a lot from them,” she said.
She also saw the importance of meeting people where they are. “Sometimes a kid doesn’t want to participate—and I don’t know what they’re going through. But I try to find ways to help them feel comfortable and safe,” she said. “That’s a big part of what I want to do as a physician someday, too. You meet people where they’re at.”
Investing in the Future, One Conversation at a Time
Reflecting on her time as a Summer STEM Fellow, Lauren said the experience shaped her personal and professional goals. “Working with different age groups, learning how to communicate, and really listening—it’s been so valuable. I’ll carry that into my future.”
Research backs this up. Near-peer mentorship has been shown to build belonging, confidence, and persistence in STEM fields. STEM Next notes that these relationships help create a supportive space where youth feel seen, heard, and capable of success, particularly when they see mentors who share similar backgrounds or experiences.
She also offered a reminder to anyone thinking about getting involved with youth. “Even if you don’t get to see the impact right away, you’re making a difference. It’s an investment you might not realize you’re making.”
Lauren’s summer shows that when we listen to young people, meet them where they are, and create opportunities for connection and discovery, we help light the way forward for them, and for ourselves.
