I'm part of team 1002, the CircuitRunners, from Marietta, Georgia.
This year was my first year on the FRC build team (I'm a sophomore). Also, there are two other girls on the team, also on their first year. Last year, I got into FRC after being on another build team fall semester, and being allowed the opportunity to spend Championships in the pit area (doing Chairman's interviews). However, I had a lot of chances over those days to observe the build team (and help with some quick fixes before matches
). So, the next year, I applied to be part of the build team.
First, I'd like to say, I go to a magnet school for math, science, and technology, so my perspective may vary from others, given that we already have a more "male-driven" environment. True, engineering and science have been predominately male fields. However, there's no reason that girls can't participate.
I'm all for encouraging females to participate in the FIRST program at any level. However, I do notice that sometimes females are given special treatment. As a girl, I do not like this practice. I feel that things like this should be merit-based. Even a person has no experience, if they have a willingness to learn, that's whats really needed. Also, girls sometimes think differently, and can provide different perspectives. Equal opportunity should mean equal opportunity - it should be up to the individual to decide whether to take that opportunity. However, I do not see the point of "forcing" girls to be interested in science and technology. It's fine to offer opportunities to girls, but asking one to do something that one isn't really interested in...maybe the statistics get higher, but it this really what we're going for?
Since all of the girls on our FRC build team were new, we didn't have a lot of experience. We had some introductory sessions, but they were mostly concepts and theories, and working with the FVC kits. This year, I was a programmer, and worked on a little mechanical. I had little prior knowledge, such as using a bandsaw, and the little C syntax I learned at the sessions. When I was done with my part for the day in programming (either we had written code and didn't have anything to test on, or another programmer was working), I would go to the mechanical area and inquire about what they were doing. I think I did well for my first year in trying to understand the broad fields of mechanical and programming for FRC.
I skimmed the thread that was linked at the beginning, and the issues of confidence came up. One of the judges asked me this question when we were just casually talking right before awards ceremony. He asked whether it was hard being in this kind of environment. I believe that working in a co-ed environment was better for me. I was very shy the beginning of my freshman year, and even though I didn't know much, I worked on knowing the rules and started speaking up. I do have some comments come up from people on the team and those outside of the team about how odd it was for a girl to be interested in this, all good-natured. However, some girls may need a little push to get them to speak up and bring their own perspective to FIRST.
I'm not the main part of the team. They will not 'fail' if I, or the other girls, or any individual member does not participate. But I believe that when girls are more active, there is a better mix of perspectives. Chairman's, Build, Engineering Inspiration, Technical team...It's all about doing what you're interested in. Attitudes also can change.
As a reply, yes, it sometimes bothers me when I'm only compared to other females. But one just has to strive to be the best they can be.
[ please excuse the rambling. It was a spur-of-the-moment, just-let-the-thoughts-flow thing
]
My opinion/story. I'd love to hear more, this is an interesting topic.