Girls,Why did you join FIRST???

[Dorienne]

Originally Posted by tiffany34990

So since there is a discussion talking about how to reach out to girls and get their participation. I would like to throw out to the girls why did we join FIRST?? perhaps this can help with reaching out to other girls if we know why others females have joined... so start telling your story!! and why have you stayed??? what is the great things about FIRST do you see??? What have you gotten out of it??

Great thread choice, Tiff! =)

I joined FIRST thinking it was just building a robot, and because I figured it would be interesting to build something really unique. I am and was very into technology, always have been. I thought it would be really fun. I never realized what it really, truly was all about. The team made it seem like it was just robot-building. However, when I got more involved in the business aspect later in my freshman year and throughout my years since, I realized instantly that it was so much more.

I have stayed through hardships and tough times on my team, mainly because I was excited in the fact that I was getting so much from FIRST. I was learning all kinds of things. It's like a business, a fun one. I did all sorts of paperwork, communications work to sponsors and authority figures in our state, and I did photography even, in my freshman year. Working with such a diverse group brought great surprise and a great deal of learning about each person's background and culture. Such a wonderful thing, FIRST is.

The great things I see in FIRST are in the students themselves. I see so much excitement in various students and the glow in their faces when they are watching the engineers and learning all they can, taking it all in. I never get tired of hearing about people's success stories in FIRST, because they're all so different.

It's amazing what people can learn from others through their experiences. What us girls can do is bring those experiences to other girls, in hopes that they will see all that we get from it, and possibly want some of that too. Then they will most likely get involved, and have their experiences of their own to pass along, and so on. That's how FIRST became how successful it is today, and that's how the girl population in FIRST will become more successful in the near future.

FIRST has given me maturity, confidence, strength in myself, and a learning experience I'll never, ever forget. This program, and all of you, have touched my heart in more ways than one. I am in debt to you all eternally for giving me the wonderful memories and lessons over these three years. My only hope in FIRST is that other girls will grow like I have, and let us lead them into this wonderful life-changing program.