FIRST didn't exist at our high school when I graduated from there in 1995.
I did spend all my free periods and time after school hanging around the wood and metal shops working on projects. After I graduated I still kept in touch with some of the teachers. In 1998 the woodshop teacher decided to begin a FIRST team at the school. He had some students interested and was looking at getting some mentors together. Needless to say I found out about FIRST when I stopped in at the school one day and choose to become part of it. He was able to get enough people and support that Team 237 (Sie-H20-Bots) was formed in the fall of 1998 to compete in the FIRST's 1999 season that January.
I'm still with the team, one of the few original people from when the team was created. There was two seasons I missed many meetings due to work schedule changes but I like being part of the team and it gives me something to do for the winter months. I just hate traveling and only been to a few comps.
The build is more fun for me.