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Nearly five hundred middle school students got hands on approach to learning about careers that focus on science and mathematics.

The Columbia Urban League hosting the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math expo known as STEM, Friday at the Columbia Convention Center.

Organizers say middle school is the perfect time to expose students to the fact that technology is changing the make up of the workforce.

"In this global economy, we have people looking for folks who have a background in STEM," says James McLawhorn, President and CEO, Columbia Urban League.

The expo featured about fifty interactive exhibits.

Students got the opportunity to learn about virtual reality, chemical engineering, applied sciences and medicine.

Some high school students held presentations for the middle schoolers.

"They think its too hard but it's really not. As a senior engineer student I thought the same thing. But when I got into the program I realized I can do this," says Tyriese Robinson, W.J. Keenan High School.

McLawhorn says because of interactive activities through STEM courses, boredom in the classroom is reduced, which he says can be a contributing factor of students dropping out.

Another high school student tells us her scientific exhibit attracted many at the expo.

"It stimulates the experience of actually being in an amusement park ride and our aim was for people who are handicapped or disabled to actually get that experience of being in the amusement park or a fair," says DeAnna Smalls, W.J. Keenan High School.