Expand your mind with robotics

In January of 2019, I became a mentor with a local FIRST robotics team, 5024 Raider Robotics. My son, Evan, joined this team when he started high school. After his first year with the team, to my shock and great pleasure, Evan asked both my husband and me to sign up as mentors. After picking my jaw up off the floor, I calmly (or not so calmly) said, “Sure!”

Initially, I worked with a group of students to bring STEAM-based workshops to the local Children’s Museum. Eventually, I expanded my involvement to help with other outreach and award prep.

After Evan graduated, I looked to expand my involvement with robotics by sharing my skills with another team. I was scrolling through a list of teams that needed mentors with my skill set and found 5679 Girls on Fire in North Carolina. I was drawn to this team because of my high school experience at an all-girls school. When given the opportunity, girls successfully occupy every role traditionally held by boys. Without implicit biases getting in the way, their confidence soars. I know this from personal experience. Working with Girls on Fire for two years, I have seen this borne out again and again.