WABS STEM Externship

"STEM Externships provide teachers with a fresh look at today’s science, technology, math, and engineering workplace through hands-on work and mentorship. Our state is home to innovative, cutting-edge STEM industries yet we struggle to attract local talent to rewarding STEM careers. As a STEM extern, your increased exposure to educational and career possibilities can help you shape students’ visions for their future upon graduation."  (WABS)

As I was almost through the 2015-2016 school year I was thinking about what I would do with my summer as a person who likes to keep their mind working. I am always looking for ways to earn extra cash to pay down those student loans, so when I received an email in April seeking externs I was intrigued. Knowing that these opportunities can be hard to come by I quickly went to the link provided and began the application process. 
As I eagerly awaited the news if I wound have this opportunity or not my excitement grew. This was the first year that I taught a STEM kit (Hands-on Standards) to my students and they loved it. It was so real-world that the student buy in was beyond evident and the integration of skills was great! I have never seen my students work so hard and serious on a task before. 
In June I received my second email from Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS) stating that I would be apart of the 2016 Externship Cohort. I had no clue as I embarked on this journey the world that I was about to enter. 
A major part of this externship was being paired with a local company as a way to understand the workforce environment and the problems that they face. This would help guide externs in writing our own problem based learning task for our students.
I was paired with The Boeing Company for eight days of full immersion. And to stay I left filled with knowledge doesn't even come close. The best way I can express the way I felt at the end of each day was, it was as if I had just had a Thanksgiving fest completely stuffed, satisfied, yet wanting more. 
By the end of the eight days I was over flowing with ideas on how The Boeing Company connects so closely to what we are doing in our classrooms. And of course all the opportunities as a sixth grade teacher who can now say when I teach certain skills or topics that these are the same skills that The Boeing Company employees use and value daily. Not to mention all the perks that their employees receive such as pay, benefits, and a on site message therapist! 
Education can be isolating, meaning we as educators get very wrapped up in our own world and rarely get the opportunity to see other career paths that many of our students will chose to be apart of. It was great to be apart of the corporate world to bring back career pathways to my students. Additionally learning the skills they see young employees lacking such as soft skills (interpersonal skills) and the ability to problem solve is a somewhat "messy" unstructured manner.  
Without a doubt this experience has and will continue to impact my teaching. I encourage educators to take advantage of these opportunities when they arise as they will not regret it.