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Being a female: this is my story
When I joined FIRST my junior year of high school (2001), I was technologically inept, didn't know much about computers or tools, but I recieved decent grades in math and science so I wanted to know if engineering was for me.
When it came to the robot, I spent most of the '01 and '02 seasons overhearing conversations between the engineers and absorbing information, I did simple machining tasks on the band saw or drill press, and participated a little bit with strategy and concept design.
Needless to say, I learned a lot... but the team would have had the same great robot whether I was on the team or not. It didn't matter... but the point is, I was inspired (as you all can clearly say now).
By helping out with such things such as media, awards, community service, demos, banners... whatever; I felt like a more active member of the team, and that I was giving something back after all. I enjoyed doing such things... I knew I learned a lot about robots, but came to cruch time I let the people who knew what they were doing go attend to the problems... I was needed somewhere else and it felt good to be important somewhere.
My point? Every aspect of a team is useful, and don't confuse inspiration with activity. You can never tell what is going on the mind of somebody, so don't assume. Because of the "non-robot" things I did, I gained useful communication skills (ways to sell people on something, less timid, phone calls, ways to deal with ppl, ect... Skills that many engineers sometimes lack)
I am continually learning more about how to build the robot every build season, it's an ongoing journey. Basically... all that matters is that I've decided to improve myself technologically.
p.s. simultaneous post... oops
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http://www.linkedin.com/in/erapacki
BUZZ 175 (01, 02) - NUTRONS 125 (03, 04) - QUEEN 1975 (06)
Beantown Blitz Founder (04) - FIRST Robotics Conferences (04) - Boston Regional Volunteer Coordinator (06)
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