Personal Statement - Andrew S.

As I and Matthew stood at the drivers' station, our hearts were hammering in our chests. Then, the loudspeaker yelled, "Begin!" The final round of the FTC competition has begun.

4 months ago, when us fresh, young pupils with great ambitions stepped into 7th grade, was also the beginning of a great host of new activities. I chose FTC Robotics. I had no idea these were the first steps in an amazing adventure. When I arrived in the classroom, the first thing I noticed was the screws. The hundreds of tiny, shiny fasteners that would turn a pile of metal into a fully functional robot.

As I was the most experienced in engineering, I was unanimously elected as my team’s leader. I was surprised. I had never been the leader of a team, and I was shy and reserved. However, I decided my team was more important and bravely stepped up to the job and out of my comfort zone. I gave each of my teammates and myself specific jobs, raised funds, and purchased parts. Now, my team was efficient and, most importantly, united.

Finally, the day has come. My team, nervous but eager, arrived at the competition. We checked in, tightened and added a few screws, and practiced for the last time. Then, the competition began. In the rounds, my programming and innovations paid off. We dominated the competition. With 4 out of 5 matches won, we were the champion of the 16 teams during the qualifying round. Then came the elimination rounds. Our alliance, or group of two teams, faced off against 3 others. Because of seamless corporation, my alliance won 2-0 in the semifinals, and our eyes were set on the first-place trophy.

The final round has begun! Our alliance again defeats the opponents in Round 1. Then, we accidentally knocked over our tower, resulting in a loss. With the score 1-1, the winner of the last round will be the winner of the FTC Competition. We drove our robots with renewed rigor, using every strategy we have. When we finished, we looked up, amazed, to see the scoreboard depicting: 84-84. A few seconds later, our side ticked off 10 points, and our shoulders slumped.

Nevertheless, as a first-year team, we achieved more than we ever hoped for. Importantly, I learned about teamwork, creativity, and perseverance. As I fastened the last screws of the year, I smiled, because both the robot and team are complete.