How has robotics affected you?

[kjolana1124]

Above all else, FIRST gave me confidence.

I had moved to Avon to start 8th grade. And, even though I had been in the two a year by the time I started high school, starting in middle school is always tough. Most people have friends by then and aren't as willing to accept new ones (middle school drama/cliques are always the worst), so I still felt a little bit like an outsider.

Joining FIRST, although I didn't know a lot about programming or building, helped me realize that it was okay that I was a little strange. There were even times where I felt slightly out of place on my team because I'm not mechanical or whatnot. But, that's alright. The main purpose of this program is to make people see the strength in themselves, and how science and engineering can assist in that. And for me, it did all that and then some. FIRST changed me from a hyperactive girl with no real direction into a really dedicated, confident student who's not only afraid to give a major business presentation in front of hundreds of people, but to also get my hands dirty and fix a broken part if I need to.

Naturally, this is an extremely condensed version of my feelings, and I could really write a novel about it. But, for the sake of your boredom and my exhaustion, I'll spare you