Hey everyone,
I know I’m a little late to the whole Thanksgiving thankfulness trend, and I saw someone else made a thread about what teams are thankful for. But I wanted to take this in a more personal direction, what we, as individuals, are thankful for in FIRST (apologies if this thread is redundant).
For me, FIRST isn’t just a program I’m part of. It’s not just something I do for fun, or to add to my college apps, or to learn a new skill. It’s my everything. It’s the one thing in my life I know I can do at the moment, the one thing that gives me joy no matter what’s going on around me. FIRST is the reason I get out of bed in the morning, and honestly, majority of the time it’s the only thing that keeps me going.
I’ve been obsessed with FIRST since I first saw a robot in 5th grade, when my high school team came to my elementary school and showed me an Aerial Assist bot shooting frisbees (I think). Back then, I couldn’t even imagine building something like that, let alone competing with it. But as soon as I learned about it, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I jumped in and never looked back.
Since then, I’ve worn so many hats in FIRST and continue to wear them, as a team member, leader, coach, volunteer, and each one has given me something different.
As a team member, I’ve had the thrill of seeing an idea go from a sketch on paper to a robot on the field. I’ve felt the adrenaline of competition day, the heartbreak of failure, and the absolute pride of watching something you built actually work. (Or, you know, not work. That’s also a thing.)
As a leader, I’ve learned to step up, take responsibility, and help guide a team through some of the hardest moments. It wasn’t always easy, but it taught me how to be there for others and how to find strength in myself when I didn’t think I had it.
As a coach, I’ve been able to inspire younger students the way FIRST inspired me. Watching an FLL student solve a problem for the first time or light up with excitement when their idea works is honestly THE best feeling in the world and I don’t expect anything to beat that.
And as a volunteer, I’ve been able to give back to the program that’s given me everything.
Through all of this, FIRST has become my safe space. When I’m happy, I have celebrated by doing anything related to FIRST, whether it’s working on a robot, mentoring someone, or just watching old competition matches. When I’m sad, I’ve definitely gone and done FIRST to feel better. There’s something so comforting about knowing it’s always there for me.
FIRST isn’t just something I do, it’s the one thing I feel like I truly belong to. It’s where I feel like I can make a difference, no matter how small. It’s my community, my purpose, my obsession.
Honestly, right now, FIRST is my one source of happiness. Life can get overwhelming and stressful, but when I go to a robotics competition or an outreach event, it feels like everything else fades away. FIRST reminds me that I have something to give, that I can create something amazing.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I know one thing for sure: FIRST will always be a part of my life. I want to keep mentoring, volunteering, and giving back however I can, and this is my promise and hopefully I will come back to this thread in a few years time. My dream is to help this program grow in unimaginable ways and reach even more students, because I know just how much it has changed my life.
So now I want to hear from you—what are you thankful for in FIRST? Maybe it’s a mentor who inspired you, a teammate who stuck by you, or a memory that keeps you smiling no matter what. Whatever it is, let’s share it and celebrate everything this incredible program has given us.