At East Durham College, I had an amazing time working at the ‘FutureMe Insights: Thinking Creatively About STEMM’ event, where I supported Year 9 students in a range of well-organised, healthcare-related workshops delivered by the NHS, Hart Biologicals, Sunderland University and FutureMe. During these sessions, students were able to explore the many different careers in healthcare and STEMM and use this as a prompt to consider future educational and career pathways.
As a Biomedical Science student, the Hart Biologicals workshop particularly stood out to me and was a memorable event. The interactive session was very informative and engaging – allowing students to gain some hands on experience using medical equipment and learn about laboratory-based careers. An opportunity like this would have been useful to me in Year 9, as using specialist equipment isn’t easily accessible in schools. This workshop highlighted the importance of exposing young people to careers they may not otherwise encounter.
Throughout the day, it was fulfilling to see students become increasingly enthusiastic as they asked questions and participated in activities. Students had fantastic ideas when brainstorming careers related to engineering, medicine and computing during the ‘Let’s Talk STEMM’ workshop by FutureMe. This workshop focused on supporting students with their interpersonal skills and encouraged students to discuss various STEMM pathways. Many students appeared to leave with a better understanding of the different career routes available, and the possible higher education qualifications needed to pursue them. Year 9 is the stage at which young people usually choose GCSE options. Providing an insight into careers available at this stage could inspire young people to find work experience opportunities that align with their career aspirations and help them understand the skills required for different roles.
The event also gave attendees the chance to interact directly with professionals, helping to make these careers feel more achievable. By meeting employers, university students, and healthcare professionals, younger students can connect what they learn in the classroom with real-world careers – broadening their aspirations. The Q&A towards the end of the event was useful as this meant students who may not have felt confident asking questions in person had the opportunity to write their questions on a sticky note and the appropriate professionals would answer them.
The campus tour at East Durham College was an enjoyable experience. Students had the opportunity to explore impressive facilities – including a clean laboratory equipped with medical equipment such as pipettes and a centrifuge. There was also an immersive 3D simulation room with interactive walls (providing a glimpse into innovative learning technologies). The tour ended in the digital suite, where students were excited to see epic 3D printers and a collection of high-performance gaming computers used for digital and creative studies.
Overall, the event was a valuable experience that not only supported the students in exploring future opportunities but also strengthened my confidence, communication skills, and passion for healthcare while highlighting the importance of inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in STEMM.
Written by Aleksandra Gala, – FutureMe Partnership Associate and Northumbria University Biomedical Science student
