"I felt really excited and even though I was a little tired, I wanted to keep going." This was the response from Lea Aguirre, a third-grade student at Sunset Elementary School, at the end of the exercises and after listening to the beats of her heart with a stethoscope, an instrument that doctors use to explore sounds produced in the chest and abdomen.
Lea was one of hundreds of students who enjoyed and learned from the Second Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Fair, which took place from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Smythe Elementary School in San Ysidro. Students and parents from most schools in the San Ysidro School District attended the fair. Indeed, along with other girls (like Janeth Portillo, a third-grade student at Smythe), she happily jumped up and down, increasing her heart rate under the watchful eye of two instructors and demonstrating her good health.
In another part of the fair, Sofia Nicole Contreras was painting her own face under the proud gaze of her father, Richard Contreras. "I've been drawing for a long time because I like it," the girl responded when asked how she felt about drawing.
Caroline Cota, under the watchful eye of her mother, Emma Cota, observed the incredible contribution that 'the magic' of the microscope offers to science.
For children, this day may be unforgettable due to the experiences they gained and the enjoyable time parents and their children spent together. It was a great opportunity to come together, get to know each other better, and most importantly: Learn together. It was announced that the First STEM Fair held "last year attracted more than 300 families and children to the inaugural event" and this second fair may have exceeded this number, which will be confirmed when the attendance numbers are finalized.
