Meet These Inspiring Teen Girls Competing in FIRST Robotics Competition Teams Around the United States — Part 2
If you haven’t checked out Part 1 of this series highlighting the girls of FIRST, make sure to take a look.
FIRST is a non-profit with programs designed to “inspire innovation and leadership through engaging, hands-on robotics challenges developed to ignite curiosity and passion in students in grades K-12.” That means young people are getting the opportunities to learn valuable science, engineering, technology, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
In addition, the kids who participate in FIRST programs also develop relationships with mentors in STEM fields as they learn the tools needed to help them become the people who will change the world.
Let’s take a few minutes to meet some of the girls who are on their way to changing the world.
Erika
Who are your role models?
My brother is my role model. He has struggled with his health in the past but he did not let it get in his way of going to college. I took that in and I do not let anything get in my way of learning new things.
Why are you participating in the FIRST robotics competition?
I am participating in FIRST robotics to experience what it is like to be part of a team.
What have you learned from being on a robotics team?
Through my short time of being in robotics, I learned that it is not a one-person job. Each person contributes and plays an important position. We help each other out to get the work done. I also learned that being part of a robotics team is similar to participating in an athletic team. Instead of doing physical activity, we use our minds to think of ways to build a robot and get it to work, the same way athletes have a game strategy. I learned that FIRST Robotics is a sport where teams interact and help each other out, rather than establishing rivalries.
What inspired you to compete?
What inspired me to compete were all the teams showcasing “Gracious Professionalism,” a value of FIRST Robotics, even though they were competing. Teams help each other fix robots and give advice.
How do you hope to impact the world through innovation?
I hope to impact the world through innovation by going to college and coming back to my community to set an example for students in Watts.
How are you using your voice for positive change?
I’m using my voice to advocate for girls that do not believe they can work in the STEAM field. Even though Robotics is just a hobby, I still want girls to believe that they can do whatever they want. No one is going to stop them, they will only stop themselves by not believing in themselves.
Favorite piece of advice you have been given?
Take in everything you learn now so you can teach it in the future.
What do you hope the girls coming up behind you take from the work you are doing?
As the first girl on my team who joined manufacturing (and was good at it), I hope the upcoming girls take in that they can do whatever the boys do. In fact, they might even do it better.
Samaria
Who are your role models?
My family is my role model because no matter what crosses them, they persevere.
Why are you participating in the FIRST robotics competition?
I am participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition because I enjoy designing, constructing, and building robots as a team with some assistance from mentors. I love building stuff and I value the mistakes we make because we can learn from them.
What have you learned from being on a robotics team?
I’ve learned a lot from being on a robotics team, but the most significant thing this team taught me was that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. And to speak out. I remember that when we attended the OC Regionals, we didn’t win any awards. I was sort of bummed out, but then I realized that we don’t need to be rewarded with a prize to feel good because we’ve made it so far as a team and should be proud of one another.
What inspired you to compete?
The negative stereotypes surrounding my community, Watts, inspired me to compete. I want my community and culture to be known for how smart we are, not as the gangsters and criminals as the media portrays us. When I hear the negative stereotypes, it makes me sad because the students in my school are very focused on learning and want to be successful in life just like any other high school student. There is so much more in Watts than what the news portrays and I want everyone to know the good more than the bad.
Also, I’m often underestimated simply because I’m a woman. People have a mentality that women should get married and have kids and stay at home taking care of them while the husband is off working. I want to have a career in the Science or Engineering field, and when people start with their opinions that something is a guy’s job and not a woman’s job, that gets me pretty mad. When my teacher (our Robotics club advisor) says she teaches the smartest kids, that makes me happy that she doesn’t think like others.
Favorite piece of advice you have been given?
One piece of advice I was given that has made me want to do a lot for my community was ‘Don’t let people in society tell you who you are.’
What do you hope the girls coming up behind you take from the work you are doing?
I hope the girls in line waiting to join robotics have fun. And if you don’t win any awards, still cheer on your team and tell all your teammates they did a really good job because community is what matters.
Kathy
Who are your role models?
My mother is my role model. Although it seems cliche, I have yet to meet a woman that compares. My mother dropped out of high school after my father gave her the ultimatum of focusing on school or giving up her children. She chose the latter. However, she soon found herself as an uneducated, single mother with four hungry mouths to feed. After working a variety of labor-intensive, odd jobs, she has decided to go back to school. My mother has motivated me to focus on my education to achieve my goals in order to have a remarkable future.
Why are you participating in the FIRST Robotics competition?
As an individual that comes from a community in which only 2.9% of residents have obtained a college degree, students often miss out on opportunities simply because they are not offered. Therefore, participating in a rookie FIRST Robotics Competition team gives me the opportunity to become an example for the Watts community and future students interested in the STEAM fields.
What have you learned from being on a robotics team?
I was hesitant to join Robotics because I felt that I couldn’t contribute to a STEAM-related field. Coincidentally, I found myself helping out with grants during my first meeting since the Business team was unavailable to attend. Now, a couple months later, I have developed myself as the Business Team leader. My position has exposed me to the lengthy process behind running a project and effectively communicating with potential sponsors and Robotics members. These skills are essential to my future because I am developing myself as an individual, leader, and contributor for my future.
What inspired you to compete?
I was inspired to compete because the general public holds negative stereotypes about the Watts community. Our mentors probably had an image of rebellious teenagers but were pleasantly surprised when they met us at our first meeting. When I presented our team at the FIRST Robotics Competition to judges, many exclaimed their surprise that we are students from Watts. They had only heard the worst about us but were amazed by our accomplishments as a rookie team with such amazing outreach. Negative stereotypes have inspired me to compete because I want to eliminate the prejudice that youth from Watts face and ultimately alter the dynamics of my community.
How do you hope to impact the world through innovation?
Our team is truly an example of Global Citizenship. We are the first STEM-based club at Jordan High School. However, we are already impacting our community. We have completed a lot of media outreach in hopes of giving back to our community. We are already planning a two-week summer program in which we mentor neighboring elementary students. We are exposing youth to educational opportunities in order to improve their future. I hope that I can further exemplify being a global citizen by developing youth as individuals, leaders, and contributors.
How are you using your voice for positive change?
I was assigned as a pit host for the FIRST Robotics Competition. I engaged with judges and the public to introduce our team. My presentation briefed the Watts community and TeraWatts involvement. Everyone was ultimately impressed by our development as a team from Watts. By personally conversing with others I was able to address misconceptions about the Watts community. I hope that the message spreads in order to humanize residents from my community and change perspectives about Watts.
Favorite piece of advice you have been given?
“Be who you want to be, not what others choose to see.” I am often perceived as quiet, mad, or cold. However, I have learned to be myself without restraints. I often observe friends tone down their personality because they fear the reaction of others. How do you expect to become a prominent leader if you refuse to become an outstanding individual?
What do you hope the girls coming up behind you take from the work you are doing?
I grew up with a family that held traditional gender-role mindsets. My older brother and I are often compared at home and in school. Therefore, I decided to attend a different school because I was tired of being known as “Leo’s little sister.” My dedication to Robotics has earned me respect from TeraWatts members, which mainly consists of boys. My peers approach me when they are in need of assistance and are confident that I have the ability to help them. I hope that girls who follow me can develop as individuals without restraints in order to become a prominent leader in Robotics and beyond.
Christine
Who are your role models?
My biggest role model is my dad. He was my robotics coach in freshman year which made a huge impact on my life. He taught me many crucial values such as work ethic, leadership, and problem-solving. I still remember and utilize the values he taught me today and these values help me constantly improve myself.
Why are you participating in the FIRST robotics competition?
I am participating in FIRST because I found a passion for programming robots and later on developed a love for the program.
What have you learned from being on a robotics team?
During my years in a FIRST robotics team, I have learned an extremely wide range of skills, from coding a robot to motivating a team.
What inspired you to compete?
Ultimately, I believe that the purpose of participating in a competition is to better oneself. The reason I participate in FIRST competitions is to push my limits by meeting and competing against inspiring and strong teams/individuals.
How do you hope to impact the world through innovation?
Impact and innovation come in many forms. Innovations can be geared towards making our lives easier, expanding our realm of knowledge, etc. The type of impact that I wish to make through innovation is to make people’s lives easier. So that something considered tedious today becomes a breeze in the future. So that people can have one less thing to worry about amid their hectic lives.
How are you using your voice for positive change?
This year, I was the leader of my FTC team. As the leader, I was able to use my voice to advocate for more STEM opportunities in schools that do not have much access to STEM. Two of the members of the team are official SACOT ambassadors and we are currently working with River Oaks Elementary to start an FLL team there.
Favorite piece of advice you have been given?
The favorite piece of advice I have been given is that “gold will shine no matter where it is.” The meaning of this advice is to focus on being the best person that you can be and not worrying about the other arbitrary factors around you.
What do you hope the girls coming up behind you take from the work you are doing?
I hope that the girls that come after me are inspired by my work and think that “if she can do it, I can do it too.”
Vaishnavi
Who are your role models?
In FIRST, we are constantly taking in and giving back. I am exposed to and am inspired by many women in technology, and two women in particular are my role models: Aruna Addala, my mom, and Coach Linda Gardner, my robotics coach. My mom worked at Motorola, took 10 years off, and is currently a software engineer at NVIDIA. She does everything meticulously, from problem solving at work to organizing the house. I aspire to be as well rounded and manage my time as well as my mom.
Why are you participating in the FIRST robotics competition?
I am a part of FIRST robotics because it facilitates constant learning and applying for me.
What have you learned from being on a robotics team?
I encounter many unique challenges in robotics which require me to think outside the box, research, and learn from others. Robotics provides an environment of improvement through a community of peers and mentors that collectively has learned about many nuances of engineering. I am constantly inspired by and learn from those around me.
What inspired you to compete?
The coaches in FIRST are committed and extremely knowledgeable, and they push my thinking to the next level. Because of these coaches, I am inspired to compete and put forth my best work.
How do you hope to impact the world through innovation?
Beyond FIRST, I hope to have an impact by helping more people have access to robotics and STEM education. I work with a group of high schoolers to use our robotics knowledge and innovation to produce robotics kits, RoBox’s, at a low cost.
How are you using your voice for positive change?
Through FIRST, I am able to have a positive influence on younger girls. In our annual Girls in STEM workshop, I work with my team to excite and encourage girls to join STEM.
Favorite piece of advice you have been given?
Coach Gardner told me to always be good at what I do, and the rest will fall into place, and this is my favorite piece of advice. I realize that if my skills are solid and I am confident, there can be no dispute. Because of this, I keep trying to improve and apply my skill set. I hope this is one practice girls coming up will exercise: working to be good at what they do.
Kate
Who are your role models?
My older sister Ally is one of my biggest role models. We started FIRST when we were kids, and now she’s in college pursuing not one, but two engineering degrees. She’s ambitious, inspiring, and is willing to work hard to reach her goals, and I hope that my future turns out as bright as hers.
Why are you participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition?
I’m participating in FIRST Robotics Competition because it gives me a chance to pursue engineering while I’m still in high school. FIRST has opened many doors with scholarships, opportunities, and so much more. I think FIRST Robotics Competition is one of the best things a high schooler could do to invest in their future.
What have you learned from being on a robotics team?
Through being on a robotics team, I’ve learned everything from leadership and communication skills to mechanical design and machining. Being on a FIRST team teaches you how to attack big problems. It teaches you how to work on a team, because we learn, fail, and succeed together no matter what.
What inspired you to compete?
My older sister and I started by enrolling in our team’s LEGO Mindstorms summer camp back when I was in third grade, and I couldn’t wait to build the big FIRST Robotics Competition bots. Now, nine years later, I’ve made it all the way up to FIRST Robotics Competition, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to be inspired so early.
How do you hope to impact the world through innovation?
I hope to be able to use what I’ve learned in FIRST and what I’ll learn studying engineering in order to solve real world problems. There’s no problem that engineering can’t solve, and no part of the world that engineering can’t reach. Engineering is a universal language spoken by people all over the world, and it’s a community that I’m excited to be a part of.
How are you using your voice for positive change?
Through my team, I’ve had opportunities to teach younger kids robotics and engineering skills, and try to inspire them at an early age, reaching over 450 kids in the community in just the last 5 years. We help mentor younger teams and other FIRST Robotics Competition teams in the area, sharing everything we’ve learned.
Favorite piece of advice you have been given?
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve been given came from my AP Chemistry teacher. She told me to always do what’s really important to me, and that’s stuck with me ever since.
What do you hope the girls coming up behind you take from the work you are doing?
I hope they realize that there’s no limit to the things they can do. With a bit of confidence and a good skill set, they can go for any position, any job, solve any problem, and succeed.
Rose
Who are your role models?
One role model of mine is Paula Scher, a graphic designer who has contributed incredible innovations to her field. She created iconic ideas that changed the industry, proving that creativity can be the driving force in shaping one’s culture.
Why are you participating in the FIRST robotics competition?
I come back to FIRST robotics year after year because of the community. The degree to which the culture of robotics is centered around sportsmanship and mutual support continues to amaze me, even after nine years.
What have you learned from being on a robotics team?
The biggest thing that I’ve learned is that I’m capable of being a leader. I’ve been one of the quiet kids my entire life, but these past few years in particular have shown me that I have the ability to go out of my comfort zone and work with people to make things happen.
What inspired you to compete?
When I was in 2nd grade, my dad was the coach of an all-girls FIRST LEGO League team. I watched them run their robot at every meeting with wide eyes and overwhelming jealousy. This is what inspired me to call up some friends and form my own team when I was old enough to join.
How do you hope to impact the world through innovation?
I hope to be involved with design projects that encourage people to question the world around them. I think that taking a step back and evaluating the culture you live in is an extremely healthy thing to do, so I’d like to develop inspiration for people to become engaged in that process.
How are you using your voice for positive change?
My team and I have been using our voice for the past couple of years to make active change in our school district. We were incredibly lucky to attend the only elementary school of eight in our district that had a strong robotics program; without those opportunities when we were younger, our team wouldn’t exist today. Since realizing the scale of this inequality, we have actively engaged our school district administration and community in founding new robotics programs at the other seven schools; as a result of our efforts, more than 50 FIRST LEGO League Jr. teams have been started in the district this year, giving over 300 mostly-underprivileged students the opportunity to join a sustainable STEM program. Though we are proud of what has been accomplished so far, we have big plans for this project and we will continue to make positive change in our school district for many years to come.
Favorite piece of advice you have been given?
“Don’t tell people how to do things; tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.” This advice wasn’t given to me directly, but it’s a quote by George S. Patton that I’ve thought a lot about. I’ve learned from being a part of this team that there’s more than one way to be right — if you let people follow their inspirations, collaborative projects can be improved by leaps and bounds in ways you didn’t expect.
What do you hope the girls coming up behind you take from the work you are doing?
Innovation has no one face. No matter what you look like, which groups you belong to, what your interests or future career path is — the power of innovation is universal. Along the same lines, don’t back away from something like robotics just because you aren’t interested in math or science. As I’ve learned firsthand, having an innate curiosity in STEM is definitely not a prerequisite for benefiting from STEM-related opportunities.
Meghan
Who are your role models?
My role models would be my teachers. Despite already having degrees, most still continue to learn new things and spark debate about future possibilities. We can ask questions about anything in their subject and almost all teachers will answer your questions, even on material outside of the course.
Why are you participating in the FIRST robotics competition?
I participate in FIRST robotics because it’s an environment where I can share my enthusiasm for STEM with other youths. On my team, I get to work alongside six other girls who are equally passionate about robotics and STEM-related things. FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), the program we participate in, has a welcoming community where every participant is readily accepted and feels like they’ve always been there.
What have you learned from being on a robotics team?
Robotics has taught me technical skills, but also valuable life skills, such as: collaboration, creative problem-solving, leadership, and perseverance that no school has a class on but everyone needs to develop. It can take a lot of me and iterations to get our robot to where we want it to be and perseverance is one of the first lessons my teammates and I learned from this program. It’s too easy to say it’s “good enough” or “better than last season” and calling it a finished product but the one thing that every robotics team agrees on, is that you’re never done working on your robot.
What inspired you to compete?
I decided to join FIRST robotics back in fourth grade (in FIRST Lego League) when a close friend of mine, my teammate of nine years now, asked me to and showed me a lego robot running down the hallway. I joined and haven’t looked back since.
How do you hope to impact the world through innovation?
I hope to use computer science to improve people’s lives. I could help create new healthcare solutions, open up new business opportunities, use data analysis to improve the efficiency of machines and processes, or something altogether different in the future.
How are you using your voice for positive change?
At home, at school, when hanging out with friends: wherever I am, I always end up talking about robotics. A large reason a lot of kids/teens don’t join robotics isn’t they don’t know there are available programs, but that they think only the “smart” kids can join. Through all my talking about robotics I try to convey to them it isn’t about being “smart,” it’s about wanting to learn new things, being willing to fail a lot, and being committed.
Favorite piece of advice you have been given?
My favorite advice would be, “remember that it’s not what you win, it’s what you learn.” This is one of the core values taught in FIRST Lego League (FLL), the younger program that my teammates and I participated in before joining FTC. As cliche and obvious sounding as it seems, it’s easy to forget. FIRST robotics programs have competitions and sometimes it can be hard to appreciate what you’ve learned after a particularly bad robot run or not qualifying for the next level of competition. Following this advice, I come out satisfied with what I learned and how I’ve improved rather than regretting “losing.”
What do you hope the girls coming up behind you take from the work you are doing?
I hope upcoming girls take away that they determine what they are capable of doing and to ignore any limits others set for them.
Sabriyah
Who are your role models?
This is going to be an odd answer, but my role models are 18th and 19th century scientists. I don’t follow their every idea or philosophy or anything like that, but I am always constantly awed by their ability to form hypotheses about the physical phenomena around them.
Why are you participating in the FIRST robotics competition?
I participate in FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) because I am able to gain hands-on experience with using the engineering process to complete a build project. This is important to me because in school, I oftentimes heard or read about the engineering process, what engineers do, etc., but I was never quite sure of what engineers really do. Through participating on a robotics team, I learned that the essence of what engineers do is this: brainstorming innovative ideas, making ideas come to life, testing them, and improving upon the designs, and going through the whole process over again. Working on an idea un l it works is such a satisfying experience for me, and I have had such experiences because of this robotics program.
What have you learned from being on a robotics team?
Some of the technical skills that I have learned are applying the engineering process, learning how to use CAD so ware and 3D printing, designing experiments, and a little Java programming.
However, the most important skills I have learned don’t have to do with the robot. Working effectively with a team, learning that people’s different backgrounds can foster innovation, and sharing my skills with others are all things that I sincerely appreciate from my experience in FIRST.
What inspired you to compete?
One of the biggest reasons why I chose to compete is the STEM experiences I would get from the program. When I started my robotics journey with LEGO robotics, I quickly realized that I would learn so many important skills that I could only acquire in this setting.
How do you hope to impact the world through innovation?
I hope to make a difference in our world by collaborating with others and designing and building machines that improve people’s lives.
How are you using your voice for positive change?
I try to use my voice for positive change by sharing my knowledge with my teammates/classmates. One of my favorite things that I have ever done through my journey in FIRST is teach my fellow teammates how to use CAD software. The way that my friends got excited when they made their first model made me realize that sharing knowledge is much more important than keeping it for oneself. I hope to positively impact the people around me by sharing my skills, and helping people realize that STEM skills aren’t as difficult as they may seem to be. Everyone can find a STEM skill in which they can excel if they choose to.
Favorite piece of advice you have been given?
My favorite piece of advice I’ve been given is “stay true to who you are.” I know, it’s pretty cheesy, but it’s some of the most real advice out there. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not, because it’s a lot more freeing to be yourself and not care what other people think.
What do you hope the girls coming up behind you take from the work you are doing?
I hope that girls younger than me aren’t afraid to say that they like math or science. I hope they feel like anyone has a shot at learning anything within STEM, not just guys.
Heeral
Who are your role models?
My role model is my mom. She lived in India for most of her life and they had little access to technology. The first time she saw a computer was when she was 21 years old. It was a very new concept that a device can readily access any information at the press of a few buttons and immediately knew that she wanted to learn everything there was to know about computers. She was driven to pursue computer science in college. The first time I saw a computer in my house was when I was 5 and it also excites me to continue along with her work and many others in the field.
Why are you participating in the FIRST robotics competition?
I am participating in FIRST because it gives me the opportunity to experience real life scenarios, building a product with deadlines, without dealing with the harsh consequences that ensue if it fails. It also provides with you a global family of students that love doing the same thing you do and an amazing atmosphere of sharing knowledge.
What have you learned from being on a robotics team?
I have learned how to follow a design all the way to a final product stage and many technical skills that come with that, including using hand tools and learning how a 3D printer works. Teamwork is also a big aspect of being on a robotics team as one person alone could probably create some sort of robot, but working together and combining everyone’s strengths to create a finished product. This program is not just about the robot aspect, but also focuses on integrating us into the community and workforce that we will contribute to in the future. It has grown my confidence in public speaking as well as talking to people in the workforce and learn from them.
What inspired you to compete?
I learned early on that I really enjoy creating and building things with my hands. FIRST was an avenue for me to continue doing something that I already love and surround myself with people that love doing the same thing.
How do you hope to impact the world through innovation?
I hope to use my knowledge and work with others with the common goal to better this world than when we came in it.
How are you using your voice for positive change?
I use my voice to recruit the younger generation to participate in STEM programs in their schools and in the community to see first hand how cool and fun it is.
Favorite piece of advice you have been given?
The best piece of advice ever given to me was “What you put in is what you get out.” That phrase has stuck with me through robotics, college applications, homework, athletics, and everything I have ever had to do in life. How much effort I am willing to make in terms of talking to new people at corporate demos or competitions is how much I will be able to learn from them.
What do you hope the girls coming up behind you take from the work you are doing?
I wish to inspire young girls to try STEM activities and see how fun math and science are first hand. Sparking their interest in elementary and middle school will give them the option to try out many different clubs to find their true passion. Identifying your passion and fighting for nothing less than exactly what you want will help you in your life and using your voice and knowledge to encourage the generation after you to help the world.
Nancy
Who are your role models?
My biggest role model is my mom. In her late twenties, she immigrated to America with my dad. She had to leave behind her family in India, and came to a country where she barely knew the language. Although she had to start her life from scratch and many people made fun of her accent, she never gave up but always persevered. Through her experiences, she taught me how important it is to keep on trying and to not be afraid to try something new.
Why are you participating in the FIRST robotics competition?
I participate in FIRST robotics because not only is it a fun and challenging activity but the program teaches you so many valuable so skills like public speaking as well as numerous technical skills. Also, after being on an FTC team I want to pursue mechanical engineering in college and robotics is a great way to practice the skills and processes required in that field.
What have you learned from being on a robotics team?
One of the most important things I have learned from robotics is public speaking and expressing my ideas to others. Even if you have a brilliant idea, if you aren’t able to communicate it to others, it will get you nowhere. Also, from demos at local companies, I have gotten over my fear of talking to others and am able to now share how much FIRST has affected me with complete strangers.
What inspired you to compete?
At my first robotics competition, I was able to witness the incredible atmosphere that surrounds the whole event. It is filled with excitement, passion and above all learning. Although each team has the same challenge, everyone creates different mechanisms to do it. Seeing this innovation firsthand inspired me to want to do the same and see what kind of an awesome robot I can build with my teammates.
How do you hope to impact the world through innovation?
I’m not quite sure what the future holds, but I hope to impact the world by designing machines to reduce waste and use energy in a more efficient manner to increase the resources available for later generations.
How are you using your voice for positive change?
One way I use my voice for positive change is by describing my experience in robotics to other children including young girls so they can see how they can get involved in STEM and knowing being “nerdy” isn’t a bad thing at all.
Favorite piece of advice you have been given?
The co-coach of my robotics team says this, “build fast, fail fast, and move on.” When designing anything, you want to try as many ideas as you can refining them along the way and don’t be afraid to abandon an idea if another one may be better or more efficient.
What do you hope the girls coming up behind you take from the work you are doing?
I hope younger girls grab hold of the opportunities in front of them and try something new. Try a STEM activity (like robotics) and stick with it for a year. It’s okay if afterwards you don’t think it is the best fit for you, but take the chance to find that out now. Also, if you run into a problem or end up failing, never give up. Instead, learn from your failures and use them as stepping stones to create something even better next time.
Charlotte
Who are your role models?
While I don’t have a specific role model I constantly look up to companies and organizations who use their business for good. Whether they support charities or improve the communities around them it always inspires me to see companies do good in the world without making profit off of it.
Why are you participating in the FIRST robotics competition?
I participate in FIRST robotics because it has given me a space to explore STEM in a supportive hands-on community. Being part of FIRST has let me learn in unique way that never would have happened in school. It allows you to get passionate about a project and truly want to learn.
What have you learned from being on a robotics team?
The biggest lesson I have learned from being on a robotics team is how to step out of your comfort zone. In robotics I have been constantly pushed out of my comfort zone when it comes to anything from public speaking to using new tools.
What inspired you to compete?
The amount of passion that I saw in other people competing is what inspired me to do the same. Everyone I have talked to about this program, regardless of their role in it, shows an obvious passion for it as soon as they open their mouth and that’s what made me want to get involved.
How do you hope to impact the world through innovation?
With everything I do, I want to make the world a better place. I hope to ultimately spend my time working to improve people’s lives whether it happens through creating new products or improving small things here and there.
How are you using your voice for positive change?
I use my voice to create positive change by speaking up when something isn’t right. Whether it be small things, like a friend saying they don’t have the ability to do something, or larger things, like injustice in the world, I know that you can’t remain quiet.
What do you hope the girls coming up behind you take from the work you are doing?
I hope that when young girls see women in STEM they can believe that they can be involved too. When growing up I struggled to see myself represented in STEM roles, so I hope that girls coming up behind me will have representation.
