Post 5: Transforming Challenges into Growth Opportunities
Mentorship is about guidance and, when it’s working well, it is about helping young people turn challenges into opportunities for growth. The Wyoming Afterschool Alliance Summer STEM Fellowship has shown that effective mentorship empowers youth to explore new possibilities and navigate uncertainties with confidence.
The Fellowship also highlights the importance of professional development for educators. Through hands-on training and continuous support, Fellows gain the skills to tackle behavior challenges, implement creative lesson plans, and adapt to real-time needs.
Abby and Bree from the second cohort shared how these experiences transformed their approach to mentorship. Abby noted that giving youth autonomy turned disengagement into leadership opportunities. Bree reflected on the power of empathy in connecting with her students.
As Stan Lee once said, “A hero is someone who helps others simply because it must be done.” Mentorship embodies this principle, offering young people the support and guidance they need to grow into resilient, empathetic leaders.
The Alliance would like to thank the participants and partners who have helped make the Summer STEM Fellowship shine, including the Million Girls Moonshot, STEM Next, PEAR, the University of Wyoming, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wyoming, and all of the programs that have hosted Fellows over the last two year.
As the Wyoming Afterschool Alliance enters the third year of the Summer STEM Fellowship, a central focus has emerged: building connected pathways for middle and high school students in rural communities. These pathways are essential for providing students with consistent access to STEM opportunities, mentorship, and career exploration.
One key challenge in rural areas is the limited exposure to diverse STEM fields. The lack of transitions—or “handoffs”—from one learning opportunity to the next can leave students disengaged. The Alliance is working to address this by fostering partnerships between afterschool programs and institutions like the University of Wyoming.
Nycole Courtney, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Student Success & Graduation, emphasizes the importance of diverse experiences, noting that students don’t need a “magical path” to success. By offering flexibility and diverse learning opportunities, programs can help students from rural areas stay engaged and find meaningful careers in STEM and other subjects.
The Million Girls Moonshot is playing a crucial role in building STEM pathways, particularly for girls. It’s important for program leaders, teachers and mentors to feel confident in guiding STEM activities, even if they aren’t STEM experts. One of the Summer STEM Fellows embraced their experience during the professional development sessions. She said, “My eyes were opened on how to interact with youth in STEM.”
These efforts are about more than academic success—they help students see how their interests can translate into real-world opportunities like working in agriculture, natural resources, or tech. Find more suggestions from 4-H: 4-h.org.
The Alliance is committed to supporting our partners who are building these pathways, ensuring that rural students have access to the tools and experiences they need to thrive.
