[pmallikarjun]

I "FIRST" because, like many others, I found a second family in my FRC team in high school and joining the team helped me gain self-confidence. I want to give that opportunity back to current students.

When I was a freshman, my head coach, Mr. Smith, believed in me. He encouraged me to voice my ideas at team meetings and helped me find the voice to do so. I went from being a really shy student sitting in the back of the room to the student that gave our team's Chairman's presentation, talked to other teams regularly at regionals, and eventually became a team leader. This shaped my future and gave me the confidence I have today to mentor FRC teams, lead a collegiate robotics group, and even just speak up and participate in my classes.

FIRST taught more than just some engineering and programming skills, FIRST taught me what it means to believe in someone and stick up for them and how to help others succeed. Nowadays, no matter what activity or organization I'm involved in (including mentoring FRC teams and volunteering at events), I try my best to help those students who seem shy and hesitant find their voice on their team because I remember being that student.