BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- As Fleet Week kicks off in New York City, students gathered at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 2 to accomplish their accomplishments.
Over 215 students designed, built, and launched their own sailboats through the Brooklyn Boatworks program - a nonprofit organization that bridges the gap in STEM education.
"What I feel like I created is the best thing. It's so awesome. I really love sailing the boat," said Julian Monica, a 12-year-old student at M.S. 88 in Brooklyn. "We started in the beginning of the year, and we start with just wood scraps. They teach us how to do basic things like saw, and they teach us how to outline the boat on the wood. Then, as we go on, we start cutting out more pieces of the wood and as we get later and later, we start attaching them."
The ambitious 12-year-old has his sights set on a future in engineering.
"I think it's gonna be really enjoyable because I can apply this to, like, an engineering job, which I think I might do. The actual process of making the boat, as well as the physics of the boat and how the water interacts with it," Monica said.
Monica said the journey to this launch day was no easy feat, but Brooklyn Boatworks' mission extends far beyond this event.
"We're trying to take it to the next level for kids," explained Maggie McNicholas, the executive director.
She said that by 2030, there will be a projected 11.6 million STEM, trade, and maritime jobs. The program aims to open students' eyes to lucrative career paths they may have previously dismissed.
"A lot of them don't know about it. And what's even sadder is that 70% of kids in middle school are deciding that they are bad at math and science for no reason other than perception," McNicholas stated.
Through in-the-field experience, she says the program is changing that narrative.
"We're trying to show kids maybe you just don't learn traditionally. By learning through hands-on experiences, things can be different, and you can be really good at math or science or engineering." McNicholas said.
As Fleet Week celebrations continue, Monica and his fellow builders can take pride in their achievements, skills gained, and bright futures ahead.
"I really love it. It's like one of my favorite things to do," Monica said.
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