Why are YOU involved in FIRST?

[DevilChild]

Quite honestly, I joined this year because last year, my freshman year, a couple of my friends were in it and they told me how much fun I would have if I joined. I didn't know I could still join then, but my sophomore year I joined and let me tell you, I've never been the same. FIRST is so wonderful, it embodies many personal beliefs of mine (such as the wonderfulness of gracious professionalism and the idea that kids today focus too much on pop culture). Also, it gave me the self confidence to show who I really am and not care what anyone thinks of me, because, after competitions and build season, I realized that people would still like me and I'd have a lot more fun if I would stop pretending to be quiet in school and just... be my crazy self. The feeling you get when you see 6 weeks of hard work, stress, and frustration pull together and become a working robot is the most amazing feeling I have ever felt. Pathetic as this may sound, one of my deepest wishes is that I had joined robotics last year, the program is that dear to me now.

[Morgan Gillespie]

My math teacher told me to
Plus I met a few people from our robotics team at LEGO camp.

OH I totally forgot in 2001 I was at the high school for one of my sisters shows and the robotics team we doing a demonstration.

[Alexa Stott]

I joined because...my mom was friends with someone whose son is on the team, and he was talking to me about it one day. It seemed like an interesting thing to do. Also, in 2000, I participated in Invent America, which was held at our high school. They had our team do a presentation. I was amazed at the robot. I've always been a bit of an odd person, but after my first robotics meeting, I knew I'd fit in just fine with the other kids on the team.

[Morgan Gillespie]

Originally Posted by AtalanteStar25

I joined because...my mom was friends with someone whose son is on the team, and he was talking to me about it one day. It seemed like an interesting thing to do. Also, in 2000, I participated in Invent America, which was held at our high school. They had our team do a presentation. I was amazed at the robot. I've always been a bit of an odd person, but after my first robotics meeting, I knew I'd fit in just fine with the other kids on the team.

Thats where it was at invent America. I couldn't remember exactly where it was, I just assumed it was at one of my sisters plays because that was one of the only reasons I went to the high school.

[Kristian Calhoun]

I joined because... Alexa (AtalanteStar25)^, and my friend, Mike Ciance's little sister, wanted me to join with them. Also, I never really got interested in sports/played on a sports team, and the robotix team seemed suit my interests pefectly. And I've been hooked since.
All of the different people, the robots, the atmosphere of a FIRST competition, and all the things that can be learned, and just the overall experience - nothing compares to FIRST.

[Michelle Celio]

The reason I joined was kinda well a long processes. It started out in the middle of my sophmore year. My technical class teacher (i got to a tech school so we're in there 1/2 the day) was like "Who wants to join the robotics team". I wanted to but my mom didn't feel like driving me (tech school was 45 min from house..well still is but yeah). So my friends who did join eventually left that year but before they left they we're like "You should come aboard just to do the website". I still couldn't go. In the mean time I looked into what FIRST really was and started looking at other teams to get an idea for what I was in for.

Then my junior year came around and my ex was like "I'll drive you home from your first meeting" so that happend, and my mom has been driving me back and forth. And guess what...I do the website . So my orginal reason to be recruited has happend. I find it kinda cool.

[RoboMadi]

ehm ehm
To be friends with all the top minds and techy people, so i can create my base and RULE THE WORLD!


Every happy ending needs a bright beginning. That 'beginning' is FIRST for me.

[Lisa Perez]

This summer, I had the opportunity to teach robotics to a group of 16 middle school girls. After I had given them my lessons, they really sought to engage with the programming and the mechanics of their robot, in the process learning how to collaborate with others and overcome their fears of asking questions.

I started as a high school student because I had an interest in math and science... But I continued as an FRC/FLL mentor in college because, for me, it was definitely worth it to leave a meeting every day seeing students enthusiastic and brimming from ear to ear about what they had learned from me through the day.

[JaneYoung]

the big picture:
I want to stay and see how big this picture is going to get.

[KenWittlief]

To be honest, Im just in it for the money!

Ive been involved with FIRST for 9 years. The checks should start coming in any day now :^)

[Freddy Schurr]

Because I believe in what this program teaches the students and how science and engineering can affect our lives. Also because there is a lot of cool people ( meaning CD members) that are in it.

DANCE TO THE MUSIC!!!!

[Dick Linn]

One word: "children". If my oldest hadn't gotten the word about FIRST, I probably wouldn't be here. Of course, the younger one was right there at the time (seventh grade) and has been on the team ever since. I've become the mentor for the drivetrain. Though not fancy, we've never had a single drivetrain failure in five years of competition (knock on wood). This year, the Team won a Motorola Quality Award at the VCU regional in Richmond, VA.

I hate going to meetings, but I love building stuff. There's nothing like getting it all together at the 11th hour and making a good showing at a regional competiton. And when it's over, the comraderie is just great. This year, our team had it's first engineer ( the team's co-founder) graduate from VCU, with honors. That makes it all worthwhile!

[+()c|D]

I am a geek and proud of it. I started in middle school and the first year i was in it (FLL) I was in awe. That was it, I'm here to stay!