[Abhishek R]

This is a great idea.

For my senior year, I'm looking forward to possibly what could be a huge change in our team. Looking at moving the team to CAD and some different drivetrain designs, developing a well organized effort to train new students to come out swinging harder than ever in 2015, and some other changes in structure and PR sides of things.

But more what I'm looking forward to is witnessing the overall growth in our team. I came in as a freshman in 2012 for Rebound Rumble, and I was lucky enough to have witnessed a really great season, and it kept me hooked from all the excitement. I''ll also have seen my own growth as an individual, where in 9th grade I was a fish relegated to deburring holes from time to time and being a scout who found it hard to voice opinions among the more experienced veteran members...to a completely life-changing experience of being chosen as the driver for the 2013 year.

2013 brought a year of struggles for both the team and myself. We were unable to make it to the finals of any of our three events (ironically being on the same alliance with 1477 at two of those regionals), and I felt as though I had let the team down. Driving has its downsides, it's a big responsibility, though it is a lot of fun.

However, the 2014 season turned out to be the complete opposite. I drove again (to my surprise) and actually won the Alamo Regional (on an alliance with 118? My freshman year I would never have thought that...although I didn't expect to be driver either). I made lots of new friends and had some of the most memorable experiences I've had in not just high school but my life up to this point.

2015 will only bring more excitement, and I can't wait to see what comes of it. Whether it's a rough or good year, I just have a feeling that it'll be great, no matter what the outcome of the season is. Then college is gonna roll around, and I hope to be attending UT majoring in Mechanical Engineering, and minoring in something I have no idea yet, I have some interests that aren't related to ME in any way (Film/Cinematography? Business? Foreign Language?). After college, I'll be looking to mentor a team wherever I end up working, there's no way I'm leaving FIRST anytime soon.

So yeah, kinda long but those are my reflections so far.