Tell us about yourself and how are you involved with FIRST?
My name is Audrey and I found the FIRST robotics program over a year ago during the FTC season Centerstage. Many of my friends had participated previously and I was interested in learning more about STEM fields and STEM application in real life. I joined an All-Girls Rookie team, FTC 15333 Code Sisters with no knowledge on robotics what so ever. I enjoyed the challenges of learning to write code for the first time and creating engineering documentation along side of some of my closest friends. Being on a team with all rookies gave me and all my teammates an opportunity to learn aside of each other and push ourselves in new directions. Since then, I’ve taken my skills to FTC 5064 Aperture Science where I do Programming and Documentation!
How has FIRST helped you accomplish your goals?
In all sincerity, My high school experience has changed so much for the better because of FIRST. After only a few months of starting robotics I made the decision to apply to a Math and Science High school since I felt like my introduction to FIRST had influenced me to a STEAM focused pathway, in addition to my love for science. I was nervous about the potential change but with the support of my friends and family, I felt confident in my decision to attend this new school. Not only do I have access to more learning opportunities and resources regrading robotics, I also have a community around me that loves the same things that I do and supports me.
Do you recall any special experiences or challenges?
Something that was really challenging my first season was that since we were all new to robotics, we struggled to navigate what competitions would look like and weren’t sure what to prepare or practice. It was something that we all had to learn along the way. While it was challenging in the moment, It helped me and my teammates to bond and learn together. We were able to innovate new solutions to our problems and test systems to see how they functioned for our team. This helped me to gain a lot of experience in problem-solving and team cooperation.
Why do you think FIRST is important for females?
Being on an All-Girls team my first year of participating in FIRST helped me to gain the confidence I needed in order to be successful. Constantly being surrounded by a variety of amazing female role models inspired me and made me aspire to meet my own personal goals. I think that fostering this kind of community shows girls and women in the FIRST community that the sky is the limit.
What are your goals for the future?
In the future, I plan to attend a 4 year university to major in Biochemistry with a minor in Data Science, with the intention on attending pharmacy school to get a PharmD afterwards. I enjoy helping others and plan on using my knowledge in programming and chemistry to help improve systems to aid healthcare workers.
What advice would you give to the younger generation of girls interested in STEAM fields?
My advice for girls interested in STEAM fields is to get involved and test the waters! There are so many amazing opportunities available especially in the FIRST community. Joining a FLL, FTC or FRC team can give you a clear view into what STEAM Fields may look like. The great thing about FIRST is that there is a wide variety of things you can do to contribute to the team’s success.
Do you have a woman you look up to/is your role model? If so, who is it and why?
A woman that I look up to would be my mom. She faced a lot of challenges in her work life as a cancer researcher, but hasn’t let that stop her from achieving her goals. It’s important to recognize that being a woman in STEAM isn’t always the easiest and that it sometimes takes a lot of persistence and hard work to achieve your goals.
Do you know a student, alumni, mentor, volunteer or sponsor with a great story?
Click here to nominate your favorite #FIRSTLikeAGirl, to tell her story!