Unearthing Latent Passions by Logan

Unearthing Latent Passions by Logan - December 2013 Scholarship Essay

I’m different than I was before. I’ve established new abilities, absorbed life lessons, and shaped long-term goals. My involvement in robotics has changed me.

I have been engaged in my FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) team—MOE (Miracles of Engineering)—for three years. Every year, during a 6-week window fondly called “build season,” we design and fabricate a 120-pound robot to play a specific game. I seek out the hardest problems, because I like solving them. Two years ago I built a shooter to launch foam basketballs into a hoop. My subteam and I experimented with many trajectories and velocities before we constructed the best design—one that carried us to gold-medal victory. Last season, I organized a small group that built a mechanism to ascend a 7-foot pyramid. After 6 laborious weeks, we fabricated a massive contraption; I was incredibly proud. But when we started competing we realized it was impractical. I learned firsthand that the best solution isn’t always complex.

Although simplicity is invaluable, every robotics meeting I learn about the complexity of real-world engineering. I build prototypes, choose appropriate motors, then fabricate raw material into finished products. As head of the welding team, I measure and cut aluminum tubing and weld the robot chassis. At competitions, I am one of 5 students (and the only girl) on pit crew, repairing the robot between matches, despite the fast-paced, pressure-filled environment. Working on student council, I help build our business plan, organize fundraisers, and schedule outreach events. Last year I was honored to be a finalist for the FIRST Dean’s List—a distinction awarded to only 2 in every 1,000 FRC students.

All these responsibilities and leadership roles have propelled me to learn. I joined the team as an amateur; engineering was completely foreign to me. The first time I ambled into the machine shop, I was speechless as I recognized how much I needed to learn. Today, as I stride through the heavy metal doors, I’m blown away by my potential. I’m looking forward to the day when, as a mechanical engineer, I can impact lives.

While my experiences on MOE have challenged me to realize my full potential, my feelings of inferiority almost kept me from joining the team. As my confidence increased, I realized I could impact lives now by mentoring other young ladies. I coach middle school robotics teams, assist girls with web design, and teach TechGirlz workshops in Philadelphia. As I pursue a career in mechanical engineering, I will continue mentoring so other women can discover how much they have to offer to technology—and how fun it is.

Robotics has changed me. Or maybe it just unearthed latent passions. Either way, I’ve gained tangible abilities (such as using a drill press or welding), and life skills (such as being a leader and thinking creatively). I’ll be an accomplished engineer who continually seeks opportunities to show girls how technology can impact them the way it’s shaped me.