I was born this way, baby.
No, really. I started going to FIRST events with my family, when I was a baby. The first one I remember, I was probably 4 or 5. I even got to drive the Placebo-bot at competitions back when they were a thing.
As I got a little older and moved, my father judged at the New Jersey regional (still does), and would find teams he trusted (thanks 103/25!) and stick me with them. They taught me about the robots, and I was hooked- I knew I had to build robots. The private school I went to flat-out refused to offer FIRST LEGO League when I was there, and so when I switched schools in 8th grade, I knew it was time to start an FRC team. I walked into the high school, asked to speak with the principal, and so 1923 came to be.
You could say this is my 20th year in FIRST, but as far as team experience, this coming season will be my 8th. I still work with my Midknight Inventors, but I'm also proud to mentor two FRC teams in partnership with Clarkson University. This stuff is my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way.