I'm going into business. So why did I join FIRST? Because there is a whole business section. Aside from that, I also want to learn and get better with technology and engineering concepts. I simply don't want to go into those fields.
What about you other non-engineering FIRST girls?
I plan on going into sports broadcasting with an emphasis on statistical analysis. I know, not your average girl's career of choice, but who says you have to be average?
I joined FIRST before I knew what I wanted to have a career in, and even if I had known, I would have chosen to join FIRST anyway. My FIRST experience taught me so many different life skills, not just robotics related ones. I've become a better public speaker, I have learned how to organize a project and complete tasks on time, I've learned how to work with other people on a team, I've learned how to problem solve, I've learned how to scout other teams and gather data, and more importantly, I've learned that helping out our communities makes a difference in the World.
Specifically in my role as head scout on our team, I realized my gift and passion for statistical analysis. I love to crunch the numbers and figure out what each team is best at doing and use that information to make good alliance selections. But when I started with FIRST, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. By participating in FIRST, I not only found my passion for statistics, but I found a greater appreciation for science and technology and found it to be a lot of fun!
FIRST totally changed my perspective on STEM careers as well as non-STEM careers and that's why I want to help get more girls involved in FIRST. It's not just for the nerds!
I'm going into Management at Purdue starting in the fall with possibly a second degree in Public Relations.
Since I started high school, all my teachers have told me to go into engineering because I understand math and science (except calculus isn't my forte). Until I joined FIRST my sophomore year, I really didn't know what engineering entailed. I may not be one of those people who builds cars in the future but I have a much deeper respect for science, engineering and technology fields. Especially those who go into math, WOW!
For the last two years, I have been in charge of the public relations part of my team and FIRST has given me the confidence to be myself and pursue my ambitions.
I graduated in 2007 and am an elementary education major with a special education dual certification, and a math concentration.
I picked this career field because yes, I do enjoy science, math an engineering, and joined a FIRST Team as a high schooler for these reasons, but I found in all of our events I loved taking the robot to a lower level. Getting down on the ground and explaining to the children how this huge complex-looking machine was actually little things that perhaps they have seen before, such as simple machines. I find it more fun to inspire others to pursue science and engineering.
I'm currently a college mentor for a FIRST team, and am the only elementary education majoring mentor on our team.
I'm also majoring in elementary education. I was in FIRST all through high school, and loved being the secretary and spirit coordinator for my team. I've always loved science and astronomy, and I know that if I wanted to I could easily succeed in a STEM field. But children are my passion, and teaching allows me to take my love of science and FIRST and ignite that in young children. And just because I'm not majoring in engineering doesn't mean that I don't still love it. The things I learned through first will stick with me all throughout my college education, and hopefully the education that I eventually teach my students.
I my self am going in to youth ministry/ elementary edu. I also have a huge interest for emergency medical and well science over all!! First has let me explore all of that and build me up as a leader. I think that first can give anyone what there looking for if they are willing to make it that and look hard enough. But just as emilyskipper said "But children are my passion" =] and I'm looking to work with in that... who knows I may end up in programing or as an EMT. All I know right now is that I love First and it has shown me so much and that is something i wont forget !
I never once regret that I joined our school's FRC team, and never will I. I learned alot of things from being a member of the pit crew. I especially learned how to worked many machines and how to assembled parts together. I acquired problem-solving skills and independent working as well as teamwork. I realized that I can do engineering stuff very well, even better than lots of other boys can.
However, I kind of decided that I should not go into the engineering field. There are just lots of discrimination against girls in engineering - a male dominant field. I don't feel like it when people let me doing stuff or helping them get the work done just because there're no other boys around. It's just unacceptable for me that though they have a girl does the work very well, but still wish that there is a boy to do that work. This is the point, the only point that I don't like about engineering.
This doesn't mean I don't like my team. Instead, I love my FRC team, and my coaches and mentors, too. I understand that they work very hard for the sake of our team. and this is one of the reasons that inspire me to work hard.
There are many other career I could choose. Why go on the difficult path where females are not welcomed? I think I like science better. It has less gender discrimination is one. ^^~
I do not mean to be confrontational, but I was rather shocked by some of the ideas of the above poster - "There are many other career I could choose. Why go on the difficult path where females are not welcomed? I think I like science better. It has less gender discrimination is one." If you don't like engineering, of course, don't go into it. But if you really do, DON'T GIVE UP. FIGHT. Caving to this discrimination will only keep us down. We would never have gotten as far as we have as a gender if women had not been willing to fight for their rights.
I personally joined my school's robotics team because my brother was a captain and several of my female friends were on it, and they needed somebody to do their newsletter. Since I am very interested in English, it worked out well. I have a few years left before I have to decide, but I'll probably go into some sort of public policy.
I am planning on going into some form of international relations.
The reason i am not planning on going into a STEM major is because I find it is a male dominated field and I do not find the problem being fixed in my generation. Although I am very interested in engineering, I do not wish to be a minority within the field. I do not feel that it would be in my interest to go into such a difficult field where females are not welcomed.
I have had to fight on my team to gain the respect I deserved, and it's simply a High School FRC team. The only time I'm allowed to help out with the robot is when there aren't enough boys around. Otherwise the response is, "there's enough boys, but feel free to work on the website with that other girl, or go plan the Chairman's submission with those girls".
I'm not saying I have not enjoyed FRC. It has taught me countless life lessons, and although I do not plan to major in any form of engineering I will still be actively involved in the team. FIRST has taught me so much through the years, however it also solidified my choice to not involve engineering in my future.
I would encourage you not to let discrimination get you down - do what you love, and the rest will follow. FORCE those who would keep us down to accept us. This problem will NEVER be fixed if girls who are interested in STEM-related fields passively accept discrimination. There are many good schools (MIT, Stanford, Purdue) that have lots of females. According to multiple sources (including a Cornell publication), about 20% of engineering undergrads are women. There is also a Society of Women Engineers. I am not interested in STEM topics, so I'm not going to purse a STEM-related field, but it makes me terribly sad and angry to hear that capable girls will not stand against societal barriers to peruse their dreams.
@FIRST Girls Rock!, aquadragon185, and those in similar situations: I'm very sorry to hear that your time in FIRST has exposed you to such discrimination. On behalf of many mentors everywhere, I apologize. Many--most--of us agree it should not be like that. In fact, I encourage you to discuss it with others in your team/area and try to spread awareness and improve the situation. Be the change you wish to see in the world! You are not alone in your feelings or your efforts, and if you ever need help don't hesitate to reach out.
And I sincerely encourage you to follow your dreams. It can be hard--I'm a mechanical engineering major and an Air Force cadet, trust me, I understand--but if you do what you love the rest will fall into place.
When I first heard my school was starting a robotics team (I had no idea what FIRST was) I dragged my sister with me to the lunch meeting. Our teacher/mentor said, "You guys are in?" and I nodded. A lot of the people that initially expressed interest left us when things started getting intense: staying after school until really, really late, going to school on the weekend (It was our rookie year we had no idea what we were doing). As a result, we had a team of 11 and my sister and I were the only girls. We were not discriminated against in any way. We didn’t have enough people to be picky about who did what. At GTR I scouted but I also helped replace the treads and fix the bumpers (because I can sew). During the build season I tapped every piece of aluminum extrusion on the robot. My sister was on the drive team and was involved in most of the electrical stuff. Getting back to the point, I am going into languages and history in university. I want to be a teacher and teach internationally. My sister’s bouncing around between mechanical, mechatronics, aerospace, and biomedical engineering. Go figure.
