I joined the STEP Program in the fall of 2017 with the goals of learning new instructional practices that can be implemented in both existing and developing course structures, and promoting STEM student retention, engagement, and achievement in my college and the university. The combination of one-on-one lecture diagnoses and mid-semester surveys with data-driven feedback tailored to my course, and regular peer discussion of critical topics and techniques in teaching was unimaginably valuable to me as an early-career instructor. After the STEP program, I feel that I am much better equipped to create a positive learning experience for a diverse student body within a variety of course formats, and that I now have the tools and knowledge base to only improve with time. This program benefits faculty by setting them on a path to excellence in teaching, and also critically benefits students by involving them in the process and substantially increasing the likelihood of effective learning in the future.