I'm embarrassed to say that I joined the FIRST team at my school because my friends were in it and they bugged my to join. We have this thing at our school where on the first day of school for freshmen, all the clubs have some reps in the gym and the freshmen go around and sign up for stuff and as questions about clubs and what not. So, when I was a freshmen the robotics team was driving the robot from the last year around in the gym and, ironically, I said to myself, "I am never joining that club. It's a nerd club." That coming from the team leader of my team from 03-04.
But I was definitely plesantly surprised and I'm grateful for those friends who made me join. And the reason I stayed in FIRST is obvious, it's awesome!