Cause-Effect essay on FRC

Cause-Effect essay on FRC

Yes… I really wrote a Cause-Effect essay about robotics. I’m joining team 3476, Code Orange, this year; I love Code Orange!! By the way, (just to brag) Code Orange(‘s alliance) placed seventh at the FRC championship this last season! But wait, you may ask: What’s FRC*? Find out yourself:

The Benefits of FRC

"To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders." Dean Kamen holds this vision. By creating FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotic competitions, Dean Kamen made his vision come true. FIRST robotics competition (FRC), one of four leagues in FIRST, is where students from grades 9-12 compete to build a robot that competes in the game for that year. Participating in FRC provides students with improved leadership skills, hands-on experience, and motivated students wanting jobs in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) related fields.

          First, through FRC involvement, students improve their leadership skills. Creating a robot requires a team that works together to demonstrate organization, communication, planning, and skill. In every FRC tournament, each team sends three representatives, called the Chairman’s Committee, to present a speech to tournament judges about the exciting things their team has done that year. Representing the team to the judges, these committee members learn speaking and leadership skills. Furthermore, each main team forms sub-teams that include machining, programing, research and the Chairman’s Committee, and eventually, a student leader naturally emerges. The members of the sub-teams learn by following the student leader. In brief, FRC helps students grow their leadership skills.

          At the same time, students, through engaging in FRC, receive hands-on experience, which will help them later on in life. When using power tools and machines in a real workshop, mentors, whether parents or graduated team members, guide students how to make parts and install them onto their robot successfully. Having only a limited time to build a robot, students learn to work under high-stress environments. During what people call build season, a six-week period to build a robot for that year’s competition, students learn to work quickly and efficiently. Additionally, being in FRC benefits students even after their part on the team ends. Workshop experience assists former students by helping them perform their jobs or hobbies better. Former students who have graduated with this experience in making things also continue to benefit. Summed up, FRC helps students by teaching them how to use tools in a real workshop.

          Furthermore, FRC encourages students to pursue jobs in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) related fields. After students graduate, they obtain jobs easier and enjoy their jobs more. First, through FRC teams, they receive internships. Because building robots cost an extremely large amount of money, FRC teams receive grants and contributions to help with the cost. Some of these sponsors hire students for internships during the summer. With a solid work record, these students often advance with the company, and the internships eventually develop into a full-time career. Not only do students obtain jobs, they have grown to love their jobs. Because FIRST competitions are about STEM, students become enthusiastic about STEM. After students graduate and move on to job in a STEM field, these former students relish their job because FRC taught them to love STEM. As a result, students often develop fantastic careers.

          In conclusion, FRC helps students in multiple ways: boosting leadership skills, providing hands-on experience, and often leading both former and current students into meaningful jobs. Because of the benefits, every student should consider involving themself with FRC. Leadership skills and real-world job skills are crucial to being successful in life. Natalie Kalin, a former student in FIRST, reports, “The skills you will learn from being a part of FIRST robotics goes so far beyond knowing the right tool to use … In addition to the technical know-how I gained from FIRST, I have also acquired other professional skills necessary in the real-world work environment.” In conclusion, students should join FIRST robotics competitions and become involved on a team.

*If after reading my essay you still don’t know what FRC is, watch this.