[Carolyn Duncan]

I learnd about FIRST over time and had to put the pieces together. I had Seen team 122 at the state fair doing an exhibition event in the technology building and my mom walked off and left me because she knew that once I found something I was interested in, she wasn't going to move me until I was ready. I'm not a math person at all, nor am I one for much that revolves around school work. I am, however, a bit handy and a bit mechanically inclined. Really I just grab tools and make stuff that works, I always have. Then one day I was at school typing a paper for some class I was taking. Our teacher sent the whole class to the computer lab to complete the assignment. There was a mindstorms kit on the table in the middle of the room and there was no way I was concentrating on typing with that around... My family still jokes that I was born with Legos in my hands... I had never gotten along well with the computer lab monitor so I didn't say much but I stared and willed them to be my Legos haha! I saw a paper taped on the wall one day talking about a robotics club and meeting so I told my mom I was going and she ignored me. When I got there after school there were 5 students- 2 senior girls, 1 senior guy and 2 freshman guys. We were out numbered by mentors! 2 college students joined, 1 school teacher, and 4 NASA engineers (who all disagreed on everything). I got there a few minutes late and when I walked in I was the jock so everyone stared, when I said "Is this where I get to play with Legos?" I was hooked and gave up playing soccer my senior year. We created team 495 and managed to go to the VCU regional and nationals at EPCOT in 2001.
That's when I met Lavery, and introduced him to water hehehe. I've held many titles, been a part of several teams, and acted in many different capacities which you could never make me regret. I learned a lot about myself and the world around me from FIRST. I have most lovingly been referred to as the "what if" chick and have gotten late night phone calls asking for help. I'm just goo at spotting potential problems or design flaws even if I can't explain them. I have been all over the country for FIRST and have missed it dearly. I'll be back very soon with the next generation.