Teaching STEM is not a matter of fact dissemination and memorization; it’s a platform to teach students to think critically and logically analyze information. Education, if done properly, should cultivate something more—what myself and others believe to be virtue. Using the tenets of classical education blended with modern laboratory practices and methodologies, I strive to develop science proficiency and literacy as well as an appreciation for STEM fields. With an increasing number of high school students graduating unprepared for the rigor of college, it is imperative that we do an admirable job of preparing students for what they’ll face in college-level science courses. We want to strike the right balance between rigor and support, encouraging students to buck hedonistic tendencies and be resilient when faced with challenges. My former experience as a chemist has given me unique insight into the “real world” of science. I have been able to use my former career as a foundation to build a science education program. I am a lifelong learner who hopes to share that love of learning with my students. I want them to see the truth and beauty in the world around them. More importantly, I want to help parents develop their teenagers into young men and women of honorable character, unafraid of facing the world head-on.When a farmer cultivates the land where he’s trying to grow vegetation, there are a variety of considerations to take into account. Growing science students is no different. In order to prepare our graduates for the STEM fields, we must develop not only students competent in science but students who can think critically and logically while maintaining the virtue and integrity that is an essential part of becoming a great citizen, much less a great scientist.