FIRST Robotics Competition by Steven

FIRST Robotics Competition by Steven - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

The intense feeling of joy when winning a match. The feeling of accomplishment when a mechanism succeeds after testing prototypes again and again. The excitement of winning the first Engineering Inspiration award in the history of the Electro Eagles. This is FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC).
FRC creates a welcoming environment for students interested in anything from business and finance, to programming and mechanical engineering. FRC teaches and applies a broad range of skills to the real world through not only competitions, but community service opportunities and by mentoring younger students. I really enjoy FRC because for me, simply put, it is a blast!
Each January, FIRST releases a new challenge. We are tasked with building a functioning robot that can drive around a 27 by 54 foot field, scoring game elements such as balls, cubes, panels, or rings. The size and weight of the robot are the main constraints; a frame perimeter of 120 inches, and a weight limit of 125 pounds. Everything else is up to the team. We get to decide how we want to drive around the field, how to pick up and place balls, and how to go about the design process. What I really enjoy about FRC is that there are so many things that we can work on at any given meeting.
I personally thoroughly enjoy the design and test phase, where I can learn skills in CAD to design a part, and then 3D print or assemble this part. I am also a driver of the robot, so I can test and critique the design of the part, and make adjustments to how it functions in order to increase our capabilities. I also think driving can teach valuable lessons while under pressure, such as making quick decisions and strategizing by managing time carefully.
Using the team building and technical skills I acquired over the past six years of robotics, I mentored younger students utilizing the engineering process as we designed a robot from scratch. To expand my experience in my final year, I will add Build Team Lead to my responsibilities. Robotics has allowed me to explore various areas of the engineering process, and acquire practical presentation and communication skills through interacting with judges. Their job is to evaluate teams and ask questions about their robot to consider them for awards. This not only teaches proper etiquette, but encourages proper and thorough communication skills.
FRC has really helped me in finding what I want to pursue in life, all while being amazingly fun and exciting. I really enjoy all of the experiences that FRC has given me, and I expect to be able to apply everything I have learned in it later on in life, from job interviews, to hobbies, and especially career paths. The rewarding feeling of my hard work and dedication paying off has ignited a passion within me to pursue Mechanical Engineering as a career.