Extracurricular activities as a motivator for career choice in STEM fields

The article discusses the role of extracurricular activities in developing schoolchildren' interest in professions related to science, techniques, engineering, mathematics (STEM). Extracurricular scientific projects and experiments play an important role in developing students' critical thinking, research skills, teamwork skills, and self-confidence. These activities not only broaden students' horizons, but also contribute to their professional self-determination and preparation for a career in STEM fields. The article provides examples of original projects of extracurricular activities of schoolchildren in these areas. The problems that schools face when implementing scientific projects are considered, namely, the lack of resources and qualified personnel, which limits the possibilities of holding comprehensive extracurricular scientific events.