STEM vs. STEAM: The Importance of Creativity

By Sriya Tallapragada

Dear teachers,

STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—once a simple acronym, it has now evolved into one of the buzzwords that instantly catches the attention of most educators. However, I’m not an educator. I’m a middle school student in New Jersey and, for me, those four letters represent my future.

As the only child of two Indian immigrants who were both software engineers, my parents worked hard every day to make sure I had opportunities that they didn’t. They pressed upon me the importance of education and enrolled me in a great, innovative school.

Sriya Tallapragada

Sriya Tallapragada is a middle school student who is passionate about the intersection between STEM, female empowerment, and writing.