FIRST®: It’s More Than Robots!

From:  FIRST

FIRST^®: It’s More Than Robots!

Ask someone who is involved with FIRST^® – whether it’s a Mentor, Volunteer, student, Sponsor, parent, or anyone in between – about what initially piqued their interest, and it’s likely that robots factor in somewhere. However, if you ask this diverse group of people what they got out of their participation, the responses would likely have nothing to do with electro-mechanical machines of any kind.

The truth is: FIRST is “More Than Robots.”

The FIRST experience is undoubtedly (but perhaps unexpectedly) multi-faceted, and oftentimes presents a profoundly personal journey for the individual. For more than 25 years, FIRST has been influencing cultural change by introducing young people to the fun and boundless career possibilities of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Each year we find that – for many participants –FIRST helps to diminish self-doubt and ultimately inspires hope for a brighter future. Teams become families, FIRST seasons become lifelong memories, and skills learned become the foundation for lucrative careers. You certainly can’t program a robot to provide all of that (yet)!

If you’re going to the FIRST Championship this year, we encourage you to stop and ask a FIRST participant why it’s “More Than Robots.” We’re willing to bet that each response will be unique, and will give you some insight into how the participant has made FIRST “work” for them.