FIRST Team 578 by Emma

FIRST Team 578 by Emma - March 2014 Scholarship Essay

Every student has one achievement during their high school experience that really stands out to them in their memory. For some, it is the amazing SAT grade, for others, their acceptance into their dream school. While I have had my dream acceptance, it still is not deemed my greatest academic achievement. That spot on the podium of memories is still occupied by my FIRST Robotics team 578.

Sophomore year, I joined Fairport High Schools robotics team. I was skeptical at first, but it ended up being the highlight of my high school career. Everything I had learned about in my technology classes were put to the test. My knowledge, combined with the knowledge of my team mates, helped in creating a robot meeting the specifications of the rule book, to complete a given task. That year, Rebound Rumble.

Over the course of six weeks, I worked with my team to think of the best design for the robot, test our ideas, and modify accordingly. I worked on the drive train, or the base that supported the electrical aspects of the robot, and the large body of the robot that completed the tasks. It is also where the wheels, chains, and gearboxes were. I learned a lot about working with tools and a lot about problem solving.

It all came down to the days of the competition. Three days, where we got to see our hard work pay off. At the Finger Lakes Regional held at the Rochester Institute of Technology, our team was selected to participate in the quarter finals with another team. The thrill of knowing another team wanted our help was overwhelming. Our work had really payed off. We lost in the first round of quarter finals, but I wasn't disappointed at all. Our robot, Darth Raider, was still the most magnificent thing I had helped to create and other teams could see it was too.

FIRST Robotics team 578 was the pinnacle of my high school career. It inspired me to go into the scientific field and taught me about working to achieve a goal. Not only that, but I learned how to work well with a team. When I moved before junior year, it was disappointing to hear my new school didn't have a team. Even though I am no longer part of FIRST Robotics, I am still proud to say I was, and I still use some of the knowledge I acquired from it today.