It has already been two years since I first stepped into the doors at robotics. I was unclear about my pursuance upon joining the team during my sophomore year. Watching my first robotics demo in our school gym drove me to join the following school year as I was fascinated by the huge robots and the enthusiasm of the team. I saw students of separate grade levels working together where two students operated the robot as others reset the gym. While one robot hastily shot out balls into the air with great distances, the other smoothly picked up and delivered tubes onto a rack-like obstacle. The collective efforts and energies of the robotics team gave me the impulse to join. I anticipated meeting people that were just as technologically fanatical as I am. I began on the Inventor team where I practiced drafting robot parts. Being on that team opened a new pathway for me. I realized that I passionately enjoy creating computer designs—even if it was a tedious process. I was then encouraged by our team’s advisor that I should undertake the animation competition for the following year. As a gamer and an animation enthusiast, I decided to pursue my childhood dream. That year, I progressively learned on my own with limited resources to complete the Autodesk Visualization Competition challenge. The season went by with cycles of stress and anger, but in the end, I acquired bulks of knowledge from the sweat and tears. Throughout these years, I've learned a lot in robotics. Robotics takes up so much time, but it is well worth it. So no matter how things get in robotics, my purpose is to always do my best.

The reason I joined robotics was because I heard the many things they offer, including 3D animation. I was always artistic and I had an interest in art, so something new like 3D animation seemed interesting and challenging to me. When I actually joined robotics, it seemed that everybody looked smart and serious. Honestly, I was a little bit nervous. Then all of a sudden we started breaking apart these robots. I did not know what everyone was doing because I had no knowledge of robots. Then, the VEX season began and we started making these robots. I did not get it and thought, "How does everybody know what to do?" In some ways it started to become unsatisfying for me as I did not feel needed and I did not feel the thrill and challenge that I was hoping to get. Because I am also on the soccer team, I became concentrated on that and I did not think about robotics as much as soccer. But, when the FIRST season was about to start, I realized my original reason for joining -- to do 3D. So I decided to apply for a position even if it seemed a little hopeless. A few days later, I was on the animation team. I felt the thrill of being able to participate in something big. For the first time in robotics, I truly felt needed and that everyone needed me in order to accomplish this huge project. I also started to feel the passion and pride for robotics. Even though this was my first time doing 3D, I realized how exciting it was and how amazing it could be for something in your mind to be able to take shape realistically. I realized the potential of this 3D animation technology even though I am not that interested in computers. I guess since I joined robotics, I became more responsible and aware of the things around me. I am proud to be on the McKinley Robotics Team and this is what I truly wanted in joining robotics.

I joined judo in my first year of high school. During my sophomore year, I was hired as a part time tutor at Kumon center. When my junior year first started, I thought to myself that I must join an after school activity to complete my schedule. I had considered joining robotics in freshman year, however, robotics sounded like a place with a high threshold. I assumed that there would be tryouts, like the way that sports select the fittest players. When I finally stepped into J-4 to attend a VEX robotics informational meeting, my previous assumptions were shattered to pieces. Apparently, anyone with any interest is invited to join VEX robotics. Without further hesitation, I had my parents sign my papers, thus becoming a new member of the VEX program. Throughout the VEX season, my eyes and my mind were exposed to brand new objects and vocabulary. The phrase that I used most frequently was, “What is that?” Later, I became a member of the FIRST animation team. My saying has changed to, “How do you do that?” As you can see, robotics has taught me new information and changed my perspective. The most significant lesson I have learned is the distinction between “commitment” and “dedication.” You can show that you are committed by coming to robotics every day. On the other hand, a dedicated person is someone who shows up prepared every day. Robotics has impact my life by proving that classroom knowledge can be applied outside of class. Finally, robotics has taught me the important value of dedication.

This is my last year as a student on Team Kika Mana. When I reflect, I remember the hesitation I had when considering whether to join robotics or not. I first joined Team Kika Mana in my sophomore year knowing nothing about robotics. Everything was overwhelming because I was in awe at what high school students like me were actually capable of. Everyday, I would learn and try something new. One day we would be using the lathe or mill and the next we would be making thank you cards for our supporters. Participating in FIRST really covers a wide range of skills - life skills that you cannot get anywhere else.

Currently, I feel that I have matured because of the various events I experience in robotics. I have also gained more confidence in myself and of those around me. Working with my teammates everyday has also brought me closer to everyone to the point where I feel comfortable sharing anything. We are family now and I hope that our relations will last a lifetime. Through FIRST, I have also gained a new perspective in science and engineering. Now, I always think about the process of how things are made! (Or how I THINK it’s made.) I really do have a newfound respect for science and technology. I hope that all the future members of Team Kika Mana or FIRST in general are able to experience and gain as much as I have.

Upon joining robotics I did not know what to expect, often hearing from others that robotics is not a girl's type of activity. However, after being a part of the team, I can now say that robotics is an activity suitable for anyone seeking to challenge themselves with the prospect of putting together a big project for competition. The hands on activities as well as the critical thinking involved in building a robot is truly an invaluable experience. Robotics has given me the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of people as we learn from each other while working towards a common goal. Being a member of robotics has allowed me to expand my horizons, nurturing a better understanding of teamwork, interpersonal skills, and much, much more. I am definitely looking forward to gaining additional skills in building, programming, and writing in the upcoming season.

Robotics has positively impacted my life by giving me hands-on experiences in science and technology. It has given me opportunities to learn to work as a team and to gain leadership skills. FIRST has also shown me a pathway in the field of engineering. I am a first year member but robotics has indeed become a big part of my life.

From an outsider’s point of view, I only saw robotics as some whacky program where people got together just to build weird-but-awesome things and compete. I joined on a whim, thinking it would simply be a fun way to spend my final year in high school. But after joining, I discovered that it was much more than that. Robotics gave me the opportunity to work with people I never would have normally worked with, and that opened my eyes to the unique and brilliant minds they were hiding inside. They amazed me with their different points of view, showing me solutions I never dreamed possible. I learned to yield to the suggestions of others, but I also learned to speak up when necessary. My team leader showed me the importance of cooperation in a team; although she could provide direction to our efforts, she could not complete the task alone and needed all of our help. That also led me to understand that leadership is anything but easy, requiring patience and insight. The competitions themselves were full of life-giving energy and nerve-wracking stress, which were healthy infusions into my otherwise dull life. In addition, I also gained some mechanical knowledge and a better understanding of physics (such as torque, vectors, force, etc), which was something I sorely needed. This may be my first year in robotics, but it has already given me so many benefits. I hope to repay the team by representing it well as a member of the PR team and by applying these wonderful experiences to all my future endeavors.

This is my last year on the McKinley Robotics Team. I joined back when I was a sophomore. My friend, Sam, mentioned how fun robotics was and the things they had learned in the summer training session. I decided to check out the robotics program for myself and I found out that joining the team wasn’t about the robots, it was about learning how to cooperate and work as a team.

When I was in middle school, I did not like to work with others and I did not know how to work well with others. I thought that working with others was useless as they could not read your mind and did not know what you wanted. But when the VEX season began, I noticed that no one was working alone as they helped and supported each other.

I never thought that joining the robotics team would enlighten my mind towards working with others. I regret that I did not join robotics when I was a freshman. Robotics has positively impacted my life. It has helped me to comprehend what I want and to realize my goal after high school. TKM - where miracles happen.

I have been on the McKinley Robotics Team for three years. I joined because my friends told me how fun robotics could be while also teaching you a lot about engineering. I have participated in both the VEX and FIRST competitions. Building the robots may take a lot of effort, but it is fun to work with other team members and I feel like the robotics team is my second family. Everyone is friendly, talented, and very cool. I am so lucky to be able to hang out with these people and be on the team because they don’t mind that I am an English as a Second Language student.

When I reflect on the three years I have been on the robotics team, I find that robotics has helped me to improve in different areas, especially in my ability to speak English. I am a timid student and am often afraid to communicate in English with my classmates. Robotics gave me a chance to practice speaking English. Other members have been very patient with me and have explained the meanings of many words to me. Also, since I have joined the robotics team, I have gained self-value and self-confidence. I am glad to be able to help to build robots, even if it is just a small task.

Being on the McKinley Robotics Team has enabled me to gain more knowledge about my future career. It has also been a positive influence in my life. I have learned what teamwork is - how to work as a team and how to communicate with others. The things I have learned in robotics are not things I can learn in class. These are some of the many ways robotics has changed my life.