[Karibou]

1. What is your team name and number?
Team 1189, the Gearheads
2. Where is your team from?
Grosse Pointe, MI
3. What is the gender break down of your team? Specifically regarding:
A. Team Leadership:
Students?
5 male, 2 female
Mentors?
7 male, 3 female (approximately)
B. Drive Team:
Not determined yet, but it has been all male for the past 3 years
C. Pit Crew:
Not determined for this year yet, but the past three years have been approximately 4 male, 2 female
4. Have you dealt with or seen a gender bias on your team? Please explain.
No. We typically have a low male-female ratio (usually at lesat 5:1), which is reflected in our leadership. However, there WERE members of other teams who gawked when they found out that we had two female co-captains who were also proficient machinists.

Family Life Questions:

1. What is your gender?
Female
2. What are your parents’ jobs/careers?
Father: Marketing manager at GM. Mother: Stay-at-home mom
3. What is your career/your spouse’s career? (If applicable)
N/A
4. Do you have brothers and/or sisters? What are their hobbies/jobs?
Two younger brothers. Their hobbies include band and video games. One is involved in FRC. The other is still in elementary school and it remains to be seen if he follows our footsteps into FIRST.
5. Roughly describe your childhood: (i.e. who did you spend time with, what types of toys did you play with)
I spent a lot of time playing with my toys; not necessarily always other people. I was a huge fan of Beanie Babies, in addition to my doll house and Barbies.

Person Specific Questions:

1. Why did you join robotics?
A friend (female) had a brother on the team, and she convinced me to join, stating clearly that it was a lot of fun, and I didn't have to work on the robot.
2. Why do you think that there are so few women working in science and technology fields?
Media pressure and sexism in the professional world. It's also unintentionally drilled into our brains from a young age that boys build things and girls cook.
3. What do you do on your team?
Last year I served as a team co-captain. This year, I am in charge of training and Safety, as well as being the main operator of our lathe. I have been on pit crew for the past three years.
4. What are your post high school aspirations? (Include college majors etc)
I'm enrolled as a Materials Science and Engineering major at Michigan Tech University for this fall. After graduating, I don't know whether I will pursue grad school or walk right into a career.
5. Have you considered going into a science or technology field? Why or why not?
Well, I'm definitely going into a science and technology field. I didn't consider this possibility until I got involved in robotics, when I was actually exposed to science and technology application.
6. Have you ever been discouraged about your career aspirations? By whom? (Relation and gender, no names please)
No. Most people seem very thrilled that I'm going to be an engineering major and are very supportive, even if they are surprised at first.