I actually can't really say why I joined. When I first came to high school, I knew math and science were not my strong suits. I was taking Algebra I as a freshmen. I had some interest in theme park design and stuff like that because I liked Disney, but that's really it. I had a slight interest in math and science sure, but I didn't think I was smart enough to actually make a career out of it. My parents always told me my skills lied more in the liberal arts, so I went with that.
However, even so, I always thought robots were kind of cool. So when I went to my sister's high school orientation (me being rather shy and kept back, seeing as we had just moved to Avon, so I knew no one) and saw the robotics team talk about what they did (right after the principal almost killed my mom with a dogeball...) I fell in love. I knew it was an awesome program, and possibly a way to learn more. I was still a bit unsure about it though, seeing as I was never math and science prone and had little mechanical background besides a little building with my dad.
That being said, when I heard about the first meeting for Avon High School's robotics team, I knew that I wanted to go and at least check it out. After all, it was like all other clubs, right?
Boy did I learn...
From the first meeting, I knew this was going to be intense. I knew a grand total of two kids in the room, and only barely. Everyone else was an upperclassmen who seemed to already know their place. However, that didn't stop them from making me feel welcome. I remember the first meeting very well. We were fixing the 07 bot for Bash (what was wrong I don't know) and they had me working on it right away. Now, it probably wouldn't be a big deal. But that day, it was the world. I remember on the drive home I couldn't shut up about how great it was and how included I felt.
Now, the next meeting I came in with an air of excitement. Especially since I heard a few small conversations of a "Bash at the Beach." Naturally, not only being new to the high school and the program, but semi new to the area as well, the first thing that came to mind was,
Beach? In October? Awesome!!
Okay, so it ended up not being a beach. But it was still something I'll never forget. Not only was it my first competition, but my unnecessary amounts of dancing and being a bit too hyperactive (which I'm sure team members will agree to) got me a job doing the actual announcing during the game. I messed up a lot, and had next to no idea what was going on, having to learn all the rules as I went along, but that wasn't the point. The point was, I could be myself and get rewarded for it, where most other places I was always told to calm down too much and stuff. Sure, maybe I was a bit over the top. But hey, they seemed to like it.
As preseason wrapped up and build season began, I knew my place. I knew I didn't know nearly as much about math and science and building as the others, so I did community work. It was a lot of fun for sure. And there were some times I helped out with mechanical, but I mostly stuck to community/spirit work. I loved it. I got to be high energy and productive. It must've worked, because we ended up winning the spirit award at Suffield Shakedown. By the time regionals rolled around, I really felt part of a team. Everyone had their place, and so did I. And, as one of our mentors said that Saturday night after we celebrated our victory, we had rhythm. Everyone was like a beat. We all knew when to come in, including me. I felt important. You don't get that out of many organizations.
That process continued the rest of my freshman year. However, by the time sophomore year rolled around, I wanted change. I've wanted to drive the robot since my freshman year (who doesn't want to drive, let's be honest). And, since I got a chance to drive at Wolcott, I figured I may have a shot. Not as first string driver one, but if I kept at it and kept my interest, I'd surely be driving by my junior or senior year. So I worked on mechanical. Well, that wasn't the only reason I switched the mechanical. I wanted to actually build the robot. That's what I wanted to do when I saw it in eighth grade, and that idea was always in the back of my mind. I just never thought I'd be good enough to help with the actual build and design. However, entering my sophomore year, I grew more confident with my abilities. I knew I knew how to use tools, and I wanted to show the rest of my team. So I did.
By the time build season started for Lunacy, I was no longer Kelsey the hyperactive spirit girl. I was Kelsey, the confident team member who could build and fix things and work with the community side. I was really comfortable with were I was. I was even heading the Chairman's video. But that was only the first two weeks or so. When actual building began and me and the others were working and testing, I learned quickly one thing I was not very good at: driving. Driving the chassis for Overdrive was one thing. However, with the new flooring and the new set of rules for what a driver needed to do, I learned right away that it wasn't my strong point. However, as the building progressed, I grew an interest in the second driver position.
At this point last year, I probably wouldn't have said anything. I knew my place, and I didn't think I was good enough to drive. However, working on my FIRST team taught me to be confident with myself, and confident enough to let my mentor know that I wanted to drive. Well, he listened. Because I began testing and working. And sure enough, come February 14th, I was the driver two for our team. I also drove at regionals.
I didn't have a perfect performance. While there a lot of factors that play into that, I was able to look back and say, "I did my best, and I learned." Something I probably wouldn't have been able to do last year, but last year I wasn't as strong and comfortable with myself. Not Atlanta is coming closer, and I know my place. I'm no longer the spirit girl. While I'm still going to have a lot of spirit (because it's not fun otherwise
), there's so much more to take advantage of that I'll be sure to do this year.
Well, that's my story. I joined because I thought robots were cool, and now I want to become an animatronic engineer. For real this time, not just because I still love Disney- but because I love working with robots, solving problems using logic, and everything about engineering. I also found a confidence in myself I wouldn't be able to have otherwise. So, that's why I joined.