[Whippet]

My first FIRST event was the 2011 Dallas regional. I was in 7th grade at the time, but I was already one of the more active members of my team. Since we had to send in team representatives for the practice members, and everyone else was working on the robot in the pit, I got to be the "driver" for half of our practice matches. Even with no robot, the energy was incredible. I got to meet several volunteers like that, and they were all very excited to see that there were some young(er) people on the teams. In the end, I never actually drove the robot, but the experience of being out on the field in front of all the other teams, watching the first tube placed at the event, and seeing all of the amazing creations of the other teams really sealed the deal for me. Although I am no longer with the team I was with that year, I have remained in FIRST, and I have now begun my freshman year with more experience than any of the people on my current team. I definitely have no plans of leaving FIRST now. I am hooked.