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Or, you could show them a nice little piece of work like this:

One event that shaped my life was the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Regional Competition that I attended in March of 2003 in Phoenix, Arizona. I had already been to one regional competition in Los Angeles in 2002 and it was a huge thrill and a truly exhilarating experience. However, this Phoenix competition was different. Teams signed up from all over the country coming from as far away as Indiana and Michigan. Since the competition was in its first year, the regional coordinators did everything possible to make it the best event that it could be. The Phoenix competition really meant something special to me and my team. We had never competed outside of LA before. I personally spent several days obtaining the financial support of local businesses, and numerous other days planning for the event. In addition, the number of hours that I put into building the robot was just truly astounding. When the FedEx truck arrived to pick up our crated robot at the end of the six and a half week build period, I knew the dream was becoming a reality. Forty-six days of my life were stowed in that crate, and my team and I would see our efforts come to life in the middle of the desert of Phoenix, Arizona.

When I arrived at the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in March an awkward feeling came upon me. I had usually only been in such a place as a spectator, not a participant. Hundreds of high school students met in the middle of the desert to hold one of the grandest celebrations of science and technology of all time! I was one of them. All the faces around me seemed so familiar, though I had never met them before. I rejoined my team and we opened the crate. Our robot was there and ready to go; all we had to do was flip the power switch and get ready for some tough competition. Walking through the pits was incredible. I was able to interact with members of other teams and talk to them about things I thought was a language of my own. We discussed drivetrains and power curves and pulse-width-modulation signals; things about which I didn’t expect to hold a conversation. At the end of the competition we placed higher than we ever had before, seeding third and reaching the semifinals. Although we didn’t win, I was overjoyed at what we had accomplished. A group of 14 high school kids and a few dedicated mentors had raised over $15,000, spent six weeks building this marvel of a machine, and traveled hundreds of miles to meet up with other people who had done the exact same thing. Winning the event was not the most important part of the competition to me; it was the experience. From fabricating parts for the robot to developing strategy plans to making friends from many states away, the experience of FIRST Robotics has truly shaped my life.