We would like to thank teams 2834, 469, 33, and 68 for putting together this great experience. Also, thank you to our alliance partners 2834 and 1501.
Though our team has a female operator and often a female human player, as well as a several female leaders, this event was still valuable for us. We brought five girls with us, all the girls on our team of nineteen students. I think it bonded the girls, and it may just have shattered some assumptions on our team about girls' robot driving abilities.
I talked to girls on other drive teams who said they hadn't ever been at the field and some who had little experience in building the robot. I think it is wonderful that they may now be encouraged to try something new in the upcoming season.
On a personal level, I had the chance to drive coach, at times with my daughters driving and operating, which was wonderful. This is my oldest daughter's last season, and the only time she will ever drive the robot at a competition, and I would bet it will be one of her favorite experiences ever.
Two guys from our team and three male mentors were on hand to support the girls, and the guys were a huge help both with scouting and advice. The girls were definitely glad they attended, and our team would love to participate in many future years!