Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

I just would like to update my inititial response.
I had joined the team at my school because I thought it was interesting and cool.
But now that I have been with FIRST for a couple of years, and I actually just wrote an application essay for a college about robotics, I have come to realize that I had really joined because of my background and experiences. My father has been a carpenter since before I was born. So, I was always helpnig him out with projects and what not. I also had gotten a lot of exposure to art.
I guess it was a combination of the two that lead me to my belief that robots are a piece of art.
I am Mechanical Manager for the second year in a row with the team and I get more and more enthused about teaching the new FIRSTers on our team about the art of robot building.
I think that everything is some art form.
FIRST is just a great way for thinking/tech artists to show off their skills.
Just like an artist (visual) can't put on a performance, but can only display his/her artwork, our competitions are just like showcases for our artwork.
We get to interact with it, but it is still kind of like showing it off.
I think that is why I really got into robotics.
((Also to play with legos as a teenager)) :D lol
to show off my artwork.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

I had to write an essay for our team scholarship that I think explains my reasoning fairly well.

If I think about it, my entire life seems like one big FIRST experience. I first saw the Bomb Squad when I was in the fourth grade and the thing I wanted from that moment on was to be on the Bomb Squad. FLL started the next year and I was on my way. I sort of bounced around on school teams for a while, but then some of us got serious and we started our own team. Lucky for us, we had six Bomb Squad members to show us the ropes. Jesse Darr and Ashley DeMass seemed to take an interest and worked with me on the research project. They taught me how to speak in front of people, talk to judges, and think on the fly, all skills that I would find essential not only for a future in FIRST, but for life.
Before I knew it the ninth grade had ended and I was getting ready for high school and The Bomb Squad. Little did I know my parents had different ideas concerning my FIRST career. They gave me an ultimatum saying that I could join Bomb Squad and nothing else or I could not join Bomb Squad and compete in everything else. Unfortunately for them their plan backfired and I chose FIRST. The rest is pretty much history. I started out a quiet sophomore sorting screws, obsessing about ratchets, and doing whatever the seniors asked me to. My junior year I think I grew up a little, wanting to know about everything from Inventor drawings to the finished robot. Stepping into the position of driver I was more nervous than I think it's possible to describe, but I learned how to control my nerves and something about grace under pressure. This year was my senior year and I put everything I could think of into this season. I stayed on people's couches or in their spare bedrooms, going home maybe twice a week, just to attend meetings full time. I made sure we had a coloring book and decorated recycling bins.
I don't know what sorts of experiences you want to hear about, but I don't think I could have put anything more into Bomb Squad or FIRST. I started a silly kid who liked to play with legos, then I grew up a little and started researching topics, I grew up a little more and mentored my own FLL team, I grew up even more and became senior robot driver for the Bomb Squad. Now I am a freshman entering University of Arkansas's mechanical engineering program and I plan to continue to let FIRST help me evolve. I hope to one day be a referee, a judge, have my own team, or maybe when I'm old and experienced enough, Dave Lavery or Dean Kamen's job. You never know. It could happen.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

I don't remember if I posted here or not... if I did, just let me know haha.

But I joined FIRST because , well, when my brother was in 9th grade (and i was in 7th) he joined. So of course, I was forced to go with my mom to drop him off at the work site. Well, this one time we went, had to have been one of the first because there was nothing built yet haha, I went into the work site and was basically all :eek: So the students had to sign in on a sheet of paper (for attendence records and all). No one was looking - so i did it too lol. The elder kids (and adults) saw it and laughed. Then 2 years later, at the team dinner, with our new advsior, I solved a puzzle cube in about 10 seconds and they guys couldn't do it. So with me seeing a work site, going to offseasons, and doing what the guys could/couldn't do, I knew I wanted to do this - and boy am I ever glad I joined FIRST. I got to use my imagination soooo much and loved it. From the first day til now, I still see myself as that lil 7th grade girl - using her imagination to the fullest. Now, I get to use my imagination and it's a much bigger part of the team.
With the years on my team, I've learned so much. Now that I'm in college, I can put that stuff to use; and yes, I am still mentoring the same team that I "joined" 8 years ago =]

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

I joined basicly because of the trips and because I could get out of class and boring study halls. I've stayed because it's...well it's...FIRST.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

So it's my second time posting in this thread.
And no I'm not here to change my answer and make it seem like I was in it for more interesting reasons, but this is what I'm going to say;

Its so great to read this thread and see a post i posted when i just joined because I was able to see how much I've grown.

My answer a long time ago was simple, I joined because it's the only club i could, and because of all my guy friends.
And to think that because of just those little things, i was introduced to a program that completely altered my life and made me who I am today.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

Well, here's my story....

A friend of mine was assigned to Robotics as an extra curricular class (She hadn't signed up for it. Also, robotics is not a very commonly known, or popular class at our school) and she ended up loving the program. she kept telling me "You have to join robotics!! It's so much fun!" So i came to a few meetings and then re-arranged my schedule so I could transfer in the next semester. I've been in love with my team and the FIRST experience ever since. I plan on coming back to mentor after I graduate.
:D

I love this program and the people you meet in it. I'm so lucky to have found it, and I will remember what happens within the next few years for the rest of my life. :]

~Casey

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

My friend was the captain of our team. She convinced me to try it for one day since I had never had any robotics experiences that I liked. And I was suprised at what went on and just started to continue going. After a while it was actually fun and addicting. So now I'm back for another year hoping it will be as fun if not better than last year.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

:p I Basically joined first because of my brothers and then my whole family jumped in so i did to. I've always been going to FRC competitions even though i'm not on a team and i did FLL and this year we're starting a FTC team. I guess the main reason i'm still going to competition is its just fun and I like meeting new people. :p I Defiantly Don't Plan To Stop Going To FRC Competitions for a long time because volenteering is really fun. Even if we only have a vex team. :p

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

Flashback 3 Years:
I knew that I was pretty good with science and math and I liked building things, but I had no idea what I could do with these interests. I was in 8th grade and everyone was choosing what high school/magnet program they wanted to go to. There was a bit of local press about Mayhem @ the Museum and I noticed a local school was involved. Looked interesting, so I looked into it and checked out their magnet program. I visited the open house and magnet showcase, saw the robot and school facilities and I was hooked. It seemed too good to be true. I "followed" 108 through the 2005 season and it happened to be a great time to follow...the year we made it to Einstein. I was definitely joining this team! That whole summer between 8th and 9th grade I was an avid Chief Delphi lurker, and practically memorized info from the FIRST site. I joined the team in Fall of 05 and it has been one of the most interesting experiences of my life thus far.

[dumb freshman activities >> shyness >> learning >> fun >> inspiration>>]

Fast Forward to Present:
It was a decision that I couldn't regret if I tried (and at times, I have). Sure there have been ups and downs, but it still seems too good to be true. I'm just a bit disappointed that I couldn't get involved earlier with FLL. My experience with FIRST has been one of the best and is nowhere close to an end. The journey continues...

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

I didn't want to be a dumb blonde. (Well, I guess there wasn't any real danger of that since I'm not blonde, but still. . .:rolleyes: )

I started in FLL, then went straight to the big 'bots. I loved the machine shop, in fact I still do, the ability to make parts for a robot out of a hunk of metal is somehow very alluring. :D I learned a LOT in my first two years on FRC, and I plan on learning more in my last two.

Bring on 2008!

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

Well actually i had no idea we even had a team at my high school till my friend told me about it because he was on the time. So being a great friend he dragged me on the team as a new recruit.

I had no idea what i was doing, after all i had never really been interested in the whole science thing. But sure enough before we hit competition of that year i was a whole new person and learned so much. Now i love the program, and cant get enough! I graduated this past spring and now in college i still keep up with my team and support them whenever i can!

Go FIRST & Girls! :D

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

The TechnoKats have put on a ball drop in dowtown Kokomo since 1998. When I was in middle school I went down to see it and I wanted to know more about the people who did it. My freshman year I took Intro to Engineering Design and my teacher was one of the lead mentors. He told me all about the team, so I decided that i would go to some meetings. Right away I loved it.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

And, this past weekend at the ARC event in Michigan, Jessica did a great job as the first female driver of a TechnoKat robot in over 10 years.

Way to go, Jessica!

Andy B.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

I joined FIRST because as a freshman i didn't have a science. And of course my mom said "You NEED a science!" Then my 8th grade teacher told me about this program her neighbor was taking over and told me to come to a meeting. I did. and at first i was like it's ok nothing majorly exciting, but in 3 weeks the Duel on the Delaware was going to take place. From there it was simple. I FELL IN LOVE! the music, the people, the excitment, the fun, the experience, everything was just WOW!

3 years later i'm glad i joined. I have met some extraordinary people that have changed my life. :D

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

My elementary school teacher was one of the coaches of Team 341 Miss Daisy and she talked about FIRST all the time. Then when I was in 4th grade, my friend's sister was on the team, so she brought me to Ramp Riot and the Philadelphia Regional a couple times, and I was like "Wow, I want to do that when I'm in high school!" Then at the beginning of my freshman year, I wasn't sure if I really wanted to join or not. At a band practice I met one of the girls on the team and she told me how much fun it is, so I decided to join. I'm so glad I did! It's so much fun and I've met so many awesome people.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

I started with FLL in eighth grade, when my dad decided he'd coach an all girls team to get some girls involved since the 3 other teams from my middle school had only boys. Enough girls didn't sign up, and we ended up with a team mostly of boys. I hated the idea at first and refused to do anything, since engineering was for boys :( but loved it in the end and decided to join my high school's FIRST team the next year. Now I spend WAY too much time on FIRST things and am so glad I joined!

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

I joined my local Lego League team in 7th grade. I showed up at the first meeting and thought I couldn't do anything. I never had legos as a kid, couldn't really do the building needed. However, the coach helped me out, and introduced me to programming. Never wanted to do anything else after that.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

At school in 7th grade, we were required to take this computer science class that pretty much introduced lego mindstorms. I instantly fell in love with it. A team for FLL was made the following year. Though I didn't join it, I heard all of these awesome things about it. When I finally got into high school, didn't have time for the school's FIRST team till my friends finally convinced me to join. I have no regrets at all. =]

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

I joined FIRST because I thought it would be a really cool thing to say I helped build a robot. I wanted to do something besides sports. I wanted to do something out of the ordinary. It turns out that I am the only one from my school and 1 of 7 girls.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

My math teacher was the one running the team. He really wanted me to join for two reasons:
1) I am a girl and there aren't many on the team.
2) I am apparently really smart (I'm a 9th grader takin trig.)
My sister's friend Jose was the president of the team and said it was really fun so I decided to go one day when I had nothing to do. I automatically loved it. Everyone was so nice that I decided to stay. Now the people on the team are some of my best friends!

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

okay I joined FIRST because it was something that was new to me. I have never really been the building type of person because I automatically assumed that I would never like it. I joined in grade 9 to just try it out, and I never thought that I would do it the year after. I mean, it was hard work and I thought that girls could NEVER build a robot. I enjoyed my first year so much it has actually made me consider doing engineering in univeristy (I'm still trying to choose between that or acting). Anyways, FIRST has been one of the best things I've experienced in my life. :)

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

I joined FIRST not really knowing what I was in for, but I knew that I liked math and science, so it sounded like it would be cool. That's the very, very short version of my story. I wrote a bit of it out for my team when they asked current team members and alumni about our experiences on the team for a bit of inspiration for our Chairman's presentation binder. I'll post it below, because I think it relates a lot to this thread, but keep in mind it was written for people who know me, so some of the quips and anecdotes make a little bit more sense to them. :p I'd still like to share my story with all of you, though.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

When I was a freshman some teachers at our school were approached to start a FIRST team. I had already become a favorite student of their's through a different competition, Science Olympiad. One of them asked me to join and I thought it would be cool to go to a few meetings and see what it was about. I also thought it would be cool to build a robot. Then my dad got involved and I stuck with it through the first year cause of him and I liked getting the chance to organize events and boss people around. So now, as a sophomore I love FIRST. I'm one of 2 student leaders and I get to boss people around e en more!

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

i went to one of my brothers competition and everyone there seemed to be having so much fun.
he had done it for 3 years and the next year i got the chance to compete against him when i went into grade 9. i joined the team and made sooo many friends i just never want to quit now. i always say i want to quit during the build season then i get to the competitions and have so much fun that i forget all about quitting! :)
so basically i got started because of my brother.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

For most of my life I enjoyed the field of science. When I decided to join my school's robotics team, I went in not knowing what part of the team I wanted to be on or really even why I was joining. I think it was because it seemed like something fun that I could do while making new friends.

When I joined, I was interested in programming, but my friends were able to convince me to go into manufacturing. Today, I still don't understand programming, none of the friends that got me into manufacturing are on the team (at all), and I am one of two girls in manufacturing.

I stay because of everything; the people, the stress, the adrenaline rush you get when your out each match screaming for your team.

Some of the great things I see about FIRST are always mentioned by everyone. We are the future of science and technology, it gives us a challenge that has deadlines, and it gives girls an opportunity to do things in a field that is male dominated without feeling overtaken. They are just as important as the men.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

Same reason the guys did, I suppose, it's ridiculously fun..ahem, I mean it's a learning fantastic opportunity.
Personally, I found my school team sophomore year (we didn't have much advertising then) through a marching band friend. Little did I know I'd spend the next three years growing more and more obsessed with the organization and end up spending upwards of 20 hours per week (30-40 during build) working on and managing that team! (Ok, so there are less-than ridiculously fun times now, welcome to life.) Then again, our albiet small team is more girls than guys (member schools are all co-ed).

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

I actually can't really say why I joined. When I first came to high school, I knew math and science were not my strong suits. I was taking Algebra I as a freshmen. I had some interest in theme park design and stuff like that because I liked Disney, but that's really it. I had a slight interest in math and science sure, but I didn't think I was smart enough to actually make a career out of it. My parents always told me my skills lied more in the liberal arts, so I went with that.

However, even so, I always thought robots were kind of cool. So when I went to my sister's high school orientation (me being rather shy and kept back, seeing as we had just moved to Avon, so I knew no one) and saw the robotics team talk about what they did (right after the principal almost killed my mom with a dogeball...) I fell in love. I knew it was an awesome program, and possibly a way to learn more. I was still a bit unsure about it though, seeing as I was never math and science prone and had little mechanical background besides a little building with my dad.

That being said, when I heard about the first meeting for Avon High School's robotics team, I knew that I wanted to go and at least check it out. After all, it was like all other clubs, right?

Boy did I learn...

From the first meeting, I knew this was going to be intense. I knew a grand total of two kids in the room, and only barely. Everyone else was an upperclassmen who seemed to already know their place. However, that didn't stop them from making me feel welcome. I remember the first meeting very well. We were fixing the 07 bot for Bash (what was wrong I don't know) and they had me working on it right away. Now, it probably wouldn't be a big deal. But that day, it was the world. I remember on the drive home I couldn't shut up about how great it was and how included I felt.

Now, the next meeting I came in with an air of excitement. Especially since I heard a few small conversations of a "Bash at the Beach." Naturally, not only being new to the high school and the program, but semi new to the area as well, the first thing that came to mind was, Beach? In October? Awesome!!

Okay, so it ended up not being a beach. But it was still something I'll never forget. Not only was it my first competition, but my unnecessary amounts of dancing and being a bit too hyperactive (which I'm sure team members will agree to) got me a job doing the actual announcing during the game. I messed up a lot, and had next to no idea what was going on, having to learn all the rules as I went along, but that wasn't the point. The point was, I could be myself and get rewarded for it, where most other places I was always told to calm down too much and stuff. Sure, maybe I was a bit over the top. But hey, they seemed to like it.

As preseason wrapped up and build season began, I knew my place. I knew I didn't know nearly as much about math and science and building as the others, so I did community work. It was a lot of fun for sure. And there were some times I helped out with mechanical, but I mostly stuck to community/spirit work. I loved it. I got to be high energy and productive. It must've worked, because we ended up winning the spirit award at Suffield Shakedown. By the time regionals rolled around, I really felt part of a team. Everyone had their place, and so did I. And, as one of our mentors said that Saturday night after we celebrated our victory, we had rhythm. Everyone was like a beat. We all knew when to come in, including me. I felt important. You don't get that out of many organizations.

That process continued the rest of my freshman year. However, by the time sophomore year rolled around, I wanted change. I've wanted to drive the robot since my freshman year (who doesn't want to drive, let's be honest). And, since I got a chance to drive at Wolcott, I figured I may have a shot. Not as first string driver one, but if I kept at it and kept my interest, I'd surely be driving by my junior or senior year. So I worked on mechanical. Well, that wasn't the only reason I switched the mechanical. I wanted to actually build the robot. That's what I wanted to do when I saw it in eighth grade, and that idea was always in the back of my mind. I just never thought I'd be good enough to help with the actual build and design. However, entering my sophomore year, I grew more confident with my abilities. I knew I knew how to use tools, and I wanted to show the rest of my team. So I did.

By the time build season started for Lunacy, I was no longer Kelsey the hyperactive spirit girl. I was Kelsey, the confident team member who could build and fix things and work with the community side. I was really comfortable with were I was. I was even heading the Chairman's video. But that was only the first two weeks or so. When actual building began and me and the others were working and testing, I learned quickly one thing I was not very good at: driving. Driving the chassis for Overdrive was one thing. However, with the new flooring and the new set of rules for what a driver needed to do, I learned right away that it wasn't my strong point. However, as the building progressed, I grew an interest in the second driver position.

At this point last year, I probably wouldn't have said anything. I knew my place, and I didn't think I was good enough to drive. However, working on my FIRST team taught me to be confident with myself, and confident enough to let my mentor know that I wanted to drive. Well, he listened. Because I began testing and working. And sure enough, come February 14th, I was the driver two for our team. I also drove at regionals.

I didn't have a perfect performance. While there a lot of factors that play into that, I was able to look back and say, "I did my best, and I learned." Something I probably wouldn't have been able to do last year, but last year I wasn't as strong and comfortable with myself. Not Atlanta is coming closer, and I know my place. I'm no longer the spirit girl. While I'm still going to have a lot of spirit (because it's not fun otherwise :P), there's so much more to take advantage of that I'll be sure to do this year.

Well, that's my story. I joined because I thought robots were cool, and now I want to become an animatronic engineer. For real this time, not just because I still love Disney- but because I love working with robots, solving problems using logic, and everything about engineering. I also found a confidence in myself I wouldn't be able to have otherwise. So, that's why I joined.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

I joined this year as a sophomore, as a distraction (I’m a dancer, and I broke sprained my ankle for the third time in one year). My original plan was to join then quit when I started dancing again, but then I got hooked.

This year I've learned its ok to be smart, and show it. I know love science and technology. I've completely changed this year; I value brains over beauty now, and look forward to a career in mechanical enginering.:D

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

Our team had a ballet dancer that joined a couple of years ago.

Today...she is a mechanical engineering major at Georgia Tech.

BTW, she still dances ballet, when not doing thermo homework.

Re: Girls,Why did you join FIRST???
 

I joined a few years ago because my sister was in it, and it looked fun. I've always been interested in technology and programming. Most of my experience had been in web design, so I was eager to try something new, and it was just sort of fun.

Then, this year, when my web design teacher realized I had been in FIRST Robotics in the past, he literally took me by the arm and dragged me down to the Robotics teacher and told him, "She's joining." It wasn't even a question, more of a statement of fact. xD

I would never regret it, though. I love FIRST, both FRC and FTC, and I'm definitely better off for joining. It's been amazing getting to meet these people and build a team. The competitions have a sort of energy of their own, and I live of of it.

I still have a lot to learn, and can't wait to learn it.