I never thought I'd actually join the robotics team for any reason. It was quite intimidating. I did not know much about the robotics team before I joined and my only experience with them was a demonstration during an assembly. My decision to join the robotics team my junior year of high school came as a shock even to myself. Perhaps it was during the FIRST Robotics competition I went to, but somewhere down the line, robotics became something I couldn’t tear myself away from; it became a part of me. Robotics taught me to be patient and understanding, even when I, myself, am getting frustrated. I learned how to be a leader to the newer members, even if I wasn’t a very good one. Working in robotics gave me a chance to try many new things I would not otherwise have ever done. Robotics was not something I could just watch, it was something I had to experience.

Upon joining robotics I did not know what to expect, often hearing from others that robotics is not a girl's type of activity. However, after being a part of the team, I can now say that robotics is an activity suitable for anyone seeking to challenge themselves with the prospect of putting together a big project for competition. The hands on activities as well as the critical thinking involved in building a robot is truly an invaluable experience. Robotics has given me the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of people as we learn from each other while working towards a common goal. Being a member of robotics has allowed me to expand my horizons, nurturing a better understanding of teamwork, interpersonal skills, and much, much more. I am definitely looking forward to gaining additional skills in building, programming, and writing in the upcoming season.

From an outsider’s point of view, I only saw robotics as some whacky program where people got together just to build weird-but-awesome things and compete. I joined on a whim, thinking it would simply be a fun way to spend my final year in high school. But after joining, I discovered that it was much more than that. Robotics gave me the opportunity to work with people I never would have normally worked with, and that opened my eyes to the unique and brilliant minds they were hiding inside. They amazed me with their different points of view, showing me solutions I never dreamed possible. I learned to yield to the suggestions of others, but I also learned to speak up when necessary. My team leader showed me the importance of cooperation in a team; although she could provide direction to our efforts, she could not complete the task alone and needed all of our help. That also led me to understand that leadership is anything but easy, requiring patience and insight. The competitions themselves were full of life-giving energy and nerve-wracking stress, which were healthy infusions into my otherwise dull life. In addition, I also gained some mechanical knowledge and a better understanding of physics (such as torque, vectors, force, etc), which was something I sorely needed. This may be my first year in robotics, but it has already given me so many benefits. I hope to repay the team by representing it well as a member of the PR team and by applying these wonderful experiences to all my future endeavors.