Attending Missouri University of Science and Technology means more than just going to college to me. It is about re-innovating myself and breaking out of what I once thought impossible. One of the things that helped cultivate this need to improve was FIRST Robotics. During high school, when most students would leave when the sun was still up, I would leave being the last one in the parking lot. I would stay late to work on a robot in a tucked-away part of the school that we called the robotics room. During the weekends, I would go to meets, competitions, and tournaments for the various organizations and clubs I was part of. Over breaks, I would put well over 100 hours into completely tearing down, redesigning, and rebuilding the competition robot to be more optimized.
In high school, I was in charge of multiple organizations, including FIRST Robotics, DECA, WYSE, Esports, Track and Field, National Honors Society, and Scholar Bowl. FIRST taught me how to be a leader in situations where it was really hard to be one. The organization’s partnerships with industry professionals and universities have provided me with valuable networking opportunities and a clearer understanding of the skills and knowledge required for my chosen career path. The emphasis on problem-solving, collaboration, and real-world application has instilled in me a passion for continuous learning and a drive to make a meaningful impact in the field I choose.
FIRST brought some long-term friendships to me that I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else. It continues to make people’s eyes light up when I even mention the name. FIRST Robotics was more than just a competition to me; it was a family of mechanically inclined people who were seeing how far they could go, figuring out the limits of their robot and themselves. I was the coach on the team for three years and got to see firsthand how people between my team and others worked hand in hand. I had the privilege of talking to other team leaders to create a plan on how we would work together. Two words have been stuck in my head ever since that will resonate with others with a similar experience: gracious professionalism.
FIRST also led me to my first interaction with S&T, as state competitions were held in the Gale Bullman Multi-Purpose Building. I remember walking into the building, seeing some guy on a chair that had omnidirectional drive, going on a tour of the Design Center across the street after the competition, and thinking, “This is where I want to go,” little did I know I would be admitted two years later.
At Missouri University of Science and Technology, I have gotten involved with the Mars Rover Design Team (MRDT), Residential Commons Hall Association (RCHA), New Student Programs (NSP) as an O-Week Mentor, MSTR (Nuclear Reactor), and most recently research in the Laser Aided Manufacturing Process Lab (LAMP Lab).
Working in the LAMP Lab couldn’t have been possible without the support of the Future Research Pioneers Program (FRPP), who were able to fund and direct me in my studies. Working in the LAMP Lab was very similar to my previously mentioned FIRST experience, except I was the underdog, learning the ways of the lab. I came in with more familiarity with traditional manufacturing than most people in the lab, whereas most of the lab had more exposure to laser-aided additive manufacturing. I spent the summer working on a multitude of different projects with various sponsors for countless hours; it has been an invaluable experience. As a first-generation college student, I show my family and friends that breaking cycles and expectations is possible but not easily done.