How has robotics affected you?

[Rapt0r9]

FIRST has given me the direction to realize what I want to do in my life. I've been in FRC for 6 years; 4 as a student and 2 as a mentor. The best years of my FRC experience where those two years that I spent as a mentor. I've seen so many students grow and develop through this program. At the end of the day, that's what FIRST is all about. It's about the students. I've found that, while I could be an engineer, I want to do something where I can mentor students and introduce them into field that they never imagined they could study.

Many of the students on my team this past year had no experience in any field of robotics. In six short weeks, they were able to be given some rough directions and dimensions and would be able to create a part or mechanism with out me looking over their shoulder. They gained the confidence to be able to present their ideas and question the ideas that are already on the table. They learned to work as a team, to delegate work, and to work with deadlines.

I could go on for ever listing everything that the students on my team have learned, but I am pretty sure every other mentor out there already knows the type of impact this program has on the young people who partake in it. FIRST has given me the drive to do something significant with my career.

[HashemReza]

I would count the ways, but I would spend days sitting here in my chair.

I've been a part of first since August '08, and my god, I'm a completely different person. I was always considered very mature for my age (mostly the facial hair at 16 and the 6'+ stature, but also for a mature sense of right and wrong, as well as focus on school). But with FIRST...It managed to hit me at the exactly right time to have maximum effect. I was searching for a real calling...I needed a means by which to achieve everything I look to in life, and it was handed to me on a silver platter.

Thinking about it still gives me chills. The amazement at what I've been able to do with my team still shocks me, and the fact that my priorities have changed so drastically is intense for me to consider. I was the Varsity 1st baseman during my first full season with my team, wouldn't you know...I didn't come back this year. Now I'm a team leader, the younger members seem to have taken a liking to me (thank god), and I'm confident. Really, truly confident. In myself, those around me, and my future. Whatever happens, I'll always be a part of this program and a part of the lives of those I've met through it. I can only hope that five, ten, fifteen years down the road, I've managed to accomplish everything that the wonderful mentors and teachers that i've met have been able to.

Something tells me I'm in love with this. Something tells me I never want to give it up. Either that makes me overly attached, or passionate...however you wish to look at it

[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

[jennifer_1547]

FIRST has affected me because before I never wanted to go into engineering. Now it's what I'm looking to persue in University. It has also taught me a lot of life lessons, which will be invaluable to me. It's shown me that anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it.

[jmanela]

FIRST has given me an amazing opportunity to do what i love to do and learn to program as well. I walked in to FIRST with almost no experience in programming computers, i just knew how to run different types of software extremely efficiently. I then learned how to program in LabView, which inspired me to learn C++, which inspired me to learn Java, which got me interested in Visual Basic, and then I relearned HTML, and before i knew it, I had a job programming EMR (Electronic Medical Record) software for my first real job.

[Siri]

As a student, FIRST gave me my life back--or perhaps more accurately, it made me want to take my life back. After my father was killed, I spent several years losing the battle with PTSD until robotics helped remind me what life was worth. It ignited my obses--passion, helped me realize me dream, let me mature almost exponentially, and introduced me to some truly amazing people who helped fill the hole in my family life. I couldn't have asked for more; I couldn't even have thought to.

As a mentor on the other hand, it's made me insane. Well, perhaps that actually started when I was a student.

All that's on top of the ridiculously cool (not to mention useful) engineering, teamwork, leadership, and life skills I've gained and the overall fun of FIRST, of course.

[henryBsick]

I came to Northeastern University.
I've participated in their AWESOME co-op program working for great companies like Philips Color Kinetics and Digital Lumens.
I'm also very excited to say that as of last Friday, I will be working at Design Continuum for my 3rd and final co-op position this July.

Summary:
Through the exposure Northeastern had in robotics when I was a HS student I found about their co-op program and have been working for great employers and making better connections ever since.

Thanks FIRST

[MarkoRamius1086]

Robotics has given me the confidence and knowledge I may need in coming years. I now know how to work the lathe, the mill, recently the basics of the hand punch, and many other minor manufacturing tools. I know how do use CAD and other AutoDesk software at a proficient level! Because of FIRST I have the skill and knowledge to mentor FLL and FTC kids on how to program, engineer, and produce robots!

I have to thank many people for this...

My mother for starting a FLL team at my middle school in 6th grade!

Our coach Mr. Clarke for including and trusting me, and keeping my silly self around!

And finally our Flexicell buddy Jumper for being a great mentor and teaching me many, many things about engineering and machining!

[scarletrain]

I am in sales and marketing on my team. I have managed to come more out of my "shell" by talking to people about and promoting our team. Through robotics, I have been able to experience new things that I never thought I would have liked before. I feel that this has been one of the best experiences of my life.

[progal]

Robotics has affected my life a lot. I've not only learned a lot but it's a lot of fun!

And I love the people that I've met.

I always feel the adrenaline rush during competitions!

[MarkoRamius1086]

Good point Shelby, robotics has also helped me make new friends... in fact I believe it has for everyone on our team. This year really helped us get closer together!

(OOHH!!!!! The adrenaline! Pity though, only the drivers really get adrenaline this year... Last year I was the human player... and it was the adrenaline that really got me into the game. This year its really all about keeping your cool.)

[delsaner]

These are few of the multiple effects of FIRST Robotics on my life.

1) Social. In middle-school, before I joined FIRST, I hardly ever talked to other people. I was that awkward kid that sat in that one seat in the classroom. After FIRST, I have made countless friends, and basically "came out of my shell".

2) Education. I was never that into school and science before FIRST. Now, I strive to take on as much as I can, and do so much better in school than before. I never imagined me attempting to take 3 AP classes for senior year.

3) College. I never thought of what I would do for a living. After robotics, I cant imagine myself getting a degree and a job in anything other than engineering.

Story of my life. =]

[Dan-o]

I want to begin for apologizing for the inevitable length of this post.

In the spring of 2002, I was a high school junior in Middletown, Delaware. Much to my surprise, I was asked by my chemistry teacher to attend an assembly to learn more about a local robotics team. I was excited, not for the content of the presentation, but for the fact that it was going to prevent me from having to do a day's worth of mindless oxidation/reduction reaction calculations.

I entered the auditorium where about 100 other students were sitting and was immediately captured by a pair of sizeable, bright green robots sitting on the stage. After a barrage of video clips and some demonstrations from the previous years' robots, the head mentor - John Larock - gave all of us an open invitation to learn more and to apply for the 2003 team at an open house being held at the team headquarters, which was located in Wilmington (30 minutes north). I was ecstatic about this program. I used to love robotics competitions that, at that time, were popular on TV. I encouraged a few other classmates, but I was only recruit from Middletown. It could have been easy to make the assumption the team was disappointed with the small showing of support.

Shortly after school let out for the summer, I eagerly attended the open house and learned about team 365 - The Miracle Workerz - and about FIRST. They stressed the multi-faceted program and their goals to inspire young engineers and help their community, but I only cared about 1 thing: wining a robotics competition. See, I was barely 16 and had a long list of character flaws (immature, brash, and over-competitive to name just a few). I was also eager to do everything within my control to help the team succeed (on the field).

After 4-5 months of MOE University (a series of courses where students learn to use machines, prototype mechanisms, and build a finished robot) the 2003 FIRST season finally started. The game was "Stack Attack" and despite it being my first year on the team, I applied to become the team's driver. I memorized the manual, drew up strategic plays in history class, and practiced driving an extra chassis whenever the CIM's were cool enough. I was named head driver and continued to be vigilant in my training. I also made time (by coming in at least 6 nights a week - every week) to help design the drive train for the front 2 wheels.

My ability to work on machinery was limited to changing the oil in my truck. Beyond that, I had absolutely no experience or even knowledge beyond high school physics of how to "make stuff work." I'll never forget when an engineering mentor - Joe Perrotto - in a 5 minute conversation handed me spec sheets on a CIM motor and a Bosch motor as well as an MMC manual and told me to design a gearbox. He saw that my eyes were as big as grapefruits and further explained that he wanted the CIM to go through a gearbox so it would spin at the same rate as the Bosch motor and that I should create this gear-down by using 2 stages. He told me that this was my responsibility, that he had confidence in me, and that I could only go to him for help (so another mentor wouldn't inadvertantly give me all the answers). It's moments like these whose impact is often under-estimated.

By competition time, I had grown in my technical knowledge, but I still lacked the maturity that the program required. I took losses too personally and I unknowingly upset several mentors and teammates. I was so upset after a match at championships where our partner ran their autonomous program despite agreeing not to (thus we were DQ'd for the match for burning a hole in the carpet) that I spouted off "I would have thrown the match if I would have known they got us DQ'd." Just typing out the words I said 7 years ago gives me an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach. I started to realize that this response was horrible and unwarranted and I sat down and spoke with the coaches. They urged me to go and speak with the other team and try to clear things up. I was so amazed with how nice they were to me when I went to apologize to them, despite my rude behavior less than an hour prior. When you're on a team, it's important to remember that your actions and lapses in judgement reflect as much on your team as they do on yourself. I embarrassed my team and I let a large number of mentors and teammates down when I decided to express my emotions inappropriately.

It wasn't until a few years later that I truly realized the importance of my experiences with MOE and FIRST. I maintain that my acting out at championships was the first time I took accountability for an action that I probably could gotten away with. To this day, I have never broken 100 in golf because I count every mis-hit and penalty stroke due in part to the integrity that was instilled in me by a bunch of mentors in lime-green shirts. I walked into the DuPont conference room for the MOE open house with an interest in math and science and walked out a year later with an enthusiasm for engineering. I went to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. I followed my interests to Louisiana and now work as a reliability engineer for industrial equipment in the petroleum and chemical industries. I was taught the importance of mentoring young people. Since my time with MOE, I helped form a team at my former high school, mentored 2 teams in other states, and now judge at least 1 regional a year.

My journey with FIRST is not over. This year, I was reminded of the true spirit of FIRST when a team failed to get inspected until the Saturday morning of their regional. On Saturday, in 3 matches, they moved a total of 15 feet. When I looked at the drive team, I saw 2 teenagers who spent months working every waking moment high-fiving one another and jumping up and down because "it moved." I am inspired by every FIRST student and mentor that I meet. I am appreciative of the personal and professional development the program has afforded me. Most importantly, I am thankful to very pacient mentors who molded a very difficult child into a (hopefully) less difficult adult with a promising future.

I again apologize if I went a lot deeper than was intended. I've been wanting to write a lot of these things for a long time and finally felt I had the opportunity. Thank you for reading my story.

[GGCO]

Probably one of the most exciting things that happened to me because of robotics was the formation of a new FRC team in my neighborhood. Several mentors/students from 904 (a team that I was a member on until recently) decided that we were going to form our own team, and in late October we formed the COMETS. We actually just attended our first competition where we won the "Rookie All-Star Award" AND placed 7th overall! I can't wait to see what we're able to accomplish in the years to come.

My roles on this team are: web developer, programmer, and "marketing guy".

When I was a member of 904, one of my duties was to recruit sponsors for the team. After doing a short "demo" of the robot to a new sponsor, I was approached by the president of the company who encouraged me to apply for an internship at his company for the following year. This year they are also a sponsor of 3357.

Good news. This month I was interviewed at the company for 2 hours, and yesterday I received word that I am one of their interns for the summer of 2010!

So that is what robotics has done for me. I am still learning many new skills, and solving many new problems. It seems like each year I continue to learn new things. If you had said to me when I first joined 904 that two years later I would be setting up my own server, coding websites, and interning at West Michigan's second largest software development company, I would have thought you were crazy. However, because of a lot of hard work, really good FRC mentors, and the desire to do my best, I am doing all of those things.

[Thing2_1723]

I was very suicidal until I joined FIRST. I didn't have a lot of confidence, all my "friends" were fake friends, and I felt my will to live slowly slipping away. I didn't have much going for me. And then I got to high school and my pltw teacher got me to join robotics and I had real friends, I wasn't afraid to be myself and I found something to live for