Oil Spill by Tori

Oil Spill by Tori - March 2026 Scholarship Essay

Squatting in my former elementary school’s janitor’s closet, I held a pink jug up to a rusty spigot. It was Family Science Night, an annual event held to spark interest in STEM; A.K.A. my favorite tradition. There’s a student science fair, live animals brought in, fun design challenges, and even the local robotics team makes an appearance. I remember it being a magical experience when I was little, and so now I volunteer every year. That’s how I ended up squished in the closet.
My task was to run a lava lamp creation station. Of course, I had no clue this would be my assignment before I walked in those school doors. In fact, I really didn’t know the first thing about lava lamps because I’d never had one. I knew that there was some type of heat and oil used, but that was really about it for my prior knowledge. Fortunately for me, children are not allowed to handle hot oil.
The lava lamps were altered to be an age appropriate experience for kids, so I was able to catch up pretty quickly. There were only a few essential materials: an empty bottle, Mentos, oil, water, and food dye (different colors if you’re feeling fancy). Within half an hour I was able to both learn the experiment and set up everything required for the perfect station. Spoiler alert: it was not quite perfect. Every 20-minutes new groups of 17 kids rotated through, leaving only a few minutes to reset for the next group. By the end of each 20-minute slot, there was oil splattered across all the classroom tables, crushed Mentos digging into the carpet, and I had to run across the hallway to refill the giant jugs of water. By no means was it perfect, but it was fun (for everyone).
While teaching the experiment I got to watch the kids fail and succeed. I watched the curiosity light up their brains as they questioned the whys behind their lamps. Why do Mentos cause this reaction? Why doesn’t the oil mix with the water? Why do these specific measurements matter? And I loved being able to answer each question.
The goal of this event is to encourage kids to develop an interest in STEM, but I think it does much more than that. Family Science Night shaped my childhood interest in STEM, but every year it reminds me of the value of STEM education. I’m immensely grateful for the programs that paved the way for my love of learning, and I hope to continue to help foster this passion in the next generation.