I began participating in Vex Robotics during my first year at Pearl River High School. While there was a Vex Robotics course available, it was limited to sophomores. In response, I took the initiative to help establish the Pearl River Robotics Club. We utilized the same kits from the course, but we took things a step further by designing our own robots to take on the challenges presented by the Vex Robotics Competition.

The club attracted attention and gradually evolved. Eventually, I was elected as the team captain. In my freshman year of high school, the club participated in its inaugural Vex Robotics Competition. The team performed reasonably well for our debut, but more importantly, we gained valuable experience in communication with our allies on the field and in selecting alliance partners.

One crucial lesson I learned while serving as the team captain was how to manage stressful situations, especially during competitions. I had to adapt and learn on the go while also leading the team effectively. As a collective, we achieved advancement to state championships in both 2019 and 2020. The most significant lesson I took away from this experience was the role of a captain and the direct impact it has on the team’s dynamics and our overall success.