# From the Classroom to the Lab: What My STEM Externship Taught Me About Innovation, Failure, and Learning

This summer, I had the opportunity to step outside my classroom and into the world of STEM industry through a teacher externship. For five weeks, I worked as a lab technician in the Research & Development department of Artisan Labs, a premier specialty cosmetic contract formulator and manufacturer based in Hansen, Idaho (population: 1,086!).

After five weeks, I gained a better understanding of industry, but I also gained new perspectives on learning, teamwork, and innovation that I can bring back to my students.

## Failure Is Part of the Process

In a Research & Development environment, failure is not viewed as the opposite of success—it is part of the process of discovering a solution.

Experiments rarely work on the first iteration. Formulations do not always turn out as expected. The answer is not to give up, but to analyze what happened, make adjustments, and try again.

This could be huge in my own practice as an educator. Many students view a failed assignment, a poor test score, or a mistake as evidence that they are not capable. They often see success and failure as final outcomes instead of steps in a process.

What if, instead, I could help students learn to ask, “Why didn’t that work?”, “What could I try differently?”, or “Is this result actually already good enough for what I am trying to accomplish?”

Of everything that I learned this summer, this is probably the biggest takeaway—not just for how my students approach learning, but also for how they perceive themselves when they experience success and failure.

## From the Classroom to the Lab Bench

As a lab technician, I typically batched two or three products each day. Batching was essentially taking a digital recipe card created by the cosmetic chemist and bringing it to life. This meant collecting ingredients from the literal thousands of chemical ingredients lining the walls of the lab—99.7% of which I had never heard of(!)—and then following instructions to weigh, mix, heat/cool, and adjust until I created the final product—something that someone could eventually put on their skin rather than put in their stomach.

My favorite item that I made was probably a set of very nicely scented perfumes. My wife even told me I smelled nice when I got home from work! I don’t think she has ever said that after a long day of work! (That said, I don’t think I will be wearing female perfume anytime soon.)

After each product was created, I measured properties such as pH, viscosity, and specific gravity. We regularly adjusted pH using ingredients such as citric acid or sodium hydroxide. I was fascinated by how small changes in pH could dramatically change the consistency and characteristics of a product—I may never look at Sour Patch Kids the same way again!

I also had the opportunity to use equipment such as a homogenizer to create high-shear emulsions, which was a fascinating reminder of how much precision and process goes into creating everyday products.

## Growth Opportunities Matter

Another aspect of the company culture that stood out was the commitment to employee growth.

During my five weeks, I saw employees take on new challenges and move into different roles. I watched a lab technician transition into a chemist role, saw an experienced chemist move into business development, and saw a 17-year-old thrive in a full-time, technical role—another reminder that ability, curiosity, and work ethic are not limited by age.

I also saw that the company was much less concerned with degrees, credentials, and industry experience than they were with someone who had a desire to learn. They are willing to take people from all backgrounds and train them into their roles. Not only do you not need a chemistry degree to be a cosmetic chemist; you may not even need a college degree. Period. You *do* need a desire and thirst for knowledge and learning. On-the-job training (and training by doing!) does the rest.

And this growth works! During my final week, Inc. Magazine released its 2026 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies, and Artisan Labs ranked in the top 11% of companies recognized on the list. What a testament to their culture and success!

## A Culture of Trust and Community

A key insight from the experience was the company culture. Employees worked hard, but they also enjoyed working together. There was humor, collaboration, celebrations, and genuine relationships among coworkers.

I was especially impressed by the trust given to employees. After learning how to complete tasks safely and correctly, I was given increasing responsibility. On my first day, I learned procedures. On my second day, I practiced with supervision. On the third, I was trusted to contribute independently while knowing that support was available when needed.

That quick ramp-up time—and trusting employees to succeed while providing that support—was surprising and inspiring.

## Bringing Industry Back to the Classroom

I am grateful for the opportunity to step outside the classroom and experience this industry firsthand. While I have worked in a number of industries across my working life, I had not really had any experiences similar to working in an R&D lab. It reminded me of experiences in the labs I participated in during high school (more than a few years ago!), showing me that eventually, yes, I did get the chance to “use this ‘stuff’ in real life.”

I look forward to bringing these lessons, stories, and examples back to my students and helping them see that the skills they are building today (yes, even in high school classes!) will open doors to possibilities they may not have considered—or even careers that may not yet exist.

Thank you, Artisan Labs—and more specifically, Bailey, Kady, Aaron, Josh, Ella, Myla, Mara, and Ashley—for a fantastic summer externship experience. I wish you all the best and hope for your continued success and growth!

-Peter