Presentation Tips- Guest Blog!

Hey, ladies! Guest blogger Chair(Wo)man here to give you some tips on—you guessed it—that ever-terrifying Chairman’s presentation you have coming up (That’s right, HappBee, I’m looking at you). Here are a few things that I’ve found helpful in my three years of Chairman’s endeavors:

1.       Present the essence of your team. What is your team known for? Don’t tell me you’re not known for anything—believe me, if you think about it, there’s something that comes to mind when someone says your team number. Whether you’re known for your outstanding spirit, for being the brightest team in the stands, or for being professional, highlight—and even overdo—that aspect. You want the judges to know who you are and where you’re from, so SHOW THEM!

2.       Make the judges remember you. I don’t care if this means you have to do cartwheels as you enter the presentation room. There might be A LOT of teams presenting where you are, and you want to make sure that when the judges see your team number again, they go, “Oh, they were the team that did this,” or, “Oh, yeah, the team that had that super effective prop!” or whatever. Leave something with them, maybe, like a binder full of pictures of things your team has done or a few of your team’s shirts or cutouts of your team number or SOMETHING. Make it impossible for them to forget what you said. And speaking of what you said…

3.       Don’t regurgitate your essay. The judges have already read it, I promise. If you try to cram yout whole essay into a five minute presentation, you’ll be talking so fast that you won’t have enough breath left to answer whatever questions they might have, and the judges won’t have any idea what you just said anyway. Pick a few things from your essay and highlight them in detail. Also, talk about the things you’ve done since you submitted your essay, or how you’ve expanded projects, or even what you’re doing at your regional. Keep it smooth and easy to listen to, and make sure you can talk S L O W.

4.       Keep your whole team on the same page. Make sure EVERYONE knows what you say in your presentation and how you said it. When judges come around to talk to your team, they won’t want to hear from you, because they already have. They’ll want to make sure your whole team knows what your team does. So make sure your team knows your presentation almost as well as you do and can present it differently than you already have, especially those who hang out in your pit all day. And finally…

5.       BREATHE! Trust me, girl, I know you’re nervous. But believe me when I say the hardest presentation you will make won’t be for the judges, but for your team, because they know the details of your content. The judges aren’t scary monsters. They’re just people who want to hear your story. They want you to be comfortable and give the best presentation you can, so give it to them! Remember to keep eye contact and speak like you’re having a conversation, not reciting a memorized speech that you’ve been saying in your sleep for weeks (I mean, we all know that’s what it is, but pretend it isn’t). You know your team, you know your presentation, now share it!

Just remember, ladies, that this is no big deal. It may seem like the scariest thing you’ve ever done, but it’s 10 minutes with two or three people who genuinely want to hear what you have to say.

I fully intend on winning Championship Chairman’s this year, but I don’t believe it’s winning unless you beat the best. I hope I see you presenting in St. Louis!

Much love,
The Chair(Wo)man

Women In Engineering: Kelly Callan

What originally inspired your interest in STEM?
Hands on experience working with grease and mechanical parts in the family garage
is what inspired my interest in STEM growing up. There is no substitute for real-
world or hands on exposure (like FIRST). FIRST was not presented to me as an
option when I was in high school, but I wish I had been able to participate! If you
enjoy STEM topics in a hands-on setting, such as FIRST, I would recommend seeing
if you also enjoy those topics in the classroom. While classes are not necessarily
indicative of the exact work you would do in many STEM careers, they are important
steps on the road to a STEM career, and important steps to developing your ability to
think.

What’s it like working in a field primarily dominated by men?
Working in a field primarily dominated by men can be a very different experience
depending on the specific industry and company in which you work. One thing
that stands out for me, working primarily with men affects the dynamic of women
working with other women. Women can end up being more judgmental towards
other women in the workplace. Be cognoscente of this, and support women in the
workplace who are worth supporting.
Women can learn a lot from men, and vice versa. The gender gap is often portrayed
in a negative light, but you can use it to your advantage by considering your learning
opportunities and knowing YOU bring special strengths to the table in a STEM
career. If you plan on entering a STEM career, put some of your time into learning
about the differing dynamics between men and women – learn about how women
tend to think and operate, how men tend to think and operate, and about strengths
and weaknesses. Read books, read articles. Educate yourself a bit on these topics
and I think you will find it well worth your while. It will enhance your perspective
and increase your ability to function successfully in a STEM workplace, oftentimes
dominated by men.


What was college like?
College was wonderful time for me – though it was often difficult, I learned a great
deal. YOU decide what you will make of your college experience. You can make as
little or as much of the experience as you choose. If you are involved in STEM, you
are already someone who has decided to maximize your time and get involved with
extracurricular activities. Continue this in college. Also, if you do pursue learning in
STEM topics, also pursue extracurricular activities outside of your STEM. You will
enrich your experience by meeting people, gaining exposure to different viewpoints,
and increasing the gender/racial/etc. distribution of people with whom you interact.

What was your biggest challenge in college?
Maintaining balance was my biggest challenge in college. For my first two years
I struggled with maintaining health and happiness, due to high stress levels and
feeling like I was never caught up with my work. I was very active in extracurricular
activities, and had a heavy course load. For busy and driven college students, I have
two pieces of advice that stand out from my experience. First, do not be obsessed
with your grades. Obviously grades are important, but don’t let your focus on
grades overshadow your ability to learn and retain what you are learning. Second,
be aware of your health and happiness throughout college. You are learning about
so much more than academics in college. You will be making more decisions for
yourself than ever before – everything from how many hours to spend on homework,
how many hours to spend sleeping, whether or not to join certain clubs and social
organizations, who to call your friends, what substances to put in your body, having
relationships, where to live, etc.. Learn from the results of your decisions, and
consider those results in the context of how you want to live your life, in college and
beyond.

How do you deal with failure?
I am usually very hard on myself after experiencing a failure – what’s worse; most
things I consider to be failures are just small everyday occurrences when I may not
have done something as perfect as I would have liked. Let me be clear, this is NOT
a good thing. Having a perfectionist mentality, failure is something I have struggled
with for a long time. It has taken me a long time to learn to accept mistakes as a
normal part of life, and I still have to work on this every day.

What has helped me most has been observing my peers and co-workers deal with
mistakes. I tend to see men brush off mistakes or not admit their actions were in fact
a mistake, but they treat mistakes as a normal, expected occurrence – not something
necessarily wrong. Women tend to dwell on mistakes, feel bad, apologize, and then
think about it more. I’m not saying you should dismiss all mistakes and think you
can do no wrong – no one likes to work with arrogance – but I’ve learned to deal
better with mistakes by taking cues from others who can take mistakes in stride.


 Do you have any advice for young women interested in STEM?
Go for it! STEM careers are so much fun! Yes, you will probably be surrounded by
a larger percentage of males for many years to come, but that’s ok. Learn about your
strengths; find ways to apply them, and seek opportunities that will let you utilize
them. Educate yourself on the differing dynamics between men and women. Learn
from the men you work with, and support the women you work with. Let me repeat,
support the women you work with (who are worth supporting).

Louise Palardy: Chemical Engineer

A word from Louise Palardy on life as a Chemical Engineer

What originally inspired your interest in STEM?

My interest started in high school, I had the most awesome Chemistry teacher - I knew at that time that I wanted to take more chemistry classes.

What’s it like working in a field primarily dominated by men?

When in a work environment, it does not seem to matter as much as you would think.  Everyone has a common goal with projects / business demands and working together is critical just like a team.

How do you overcome difficulties?

I usually start out by venting to someone that I trust.  Then I make an action plan and tackle the problem.

What was your first job in your field?

My first job was a Loss Prevention Engineer (Fire and Explosion hazard inspector) for Manufacturing / Industrial Companies.

What do you most enjoy about your job?

Learning.

What was college like?

I liked the variety of classes that I took and made some great friends.

What was your biggest challenge in college?

The biggest challenge was balancing work and college.  Everyone wants to do their best and there is only so much time.

How do you deal with failure?

I think about how I would handle it better next time.

What, to you, made it all worth it?

I was driven to graduate from college, I put more pressure on myself than my parents did.

If you could go back in time, would you do anything differently?

No I would not.

What would you consider the defining moment of your career?

When my boss left, I had to take over the department.  At first I was petrified, then it was not so bad. They decided not to replace him.

Do you have any advice for young women interested in STEM?

Give it a try, take classes that you like and it will lead to a career that you like.

A Family Matter

I write you in a spirit of mourning, to ask for your thoughts in this time of solemn reflection. One of our own has passed on. Our beloved safety captain is no longer with us. While plans fall in to replace him, the moment to grieve for his passing comes now.

Squirt Squishy Killer Bee, also known as The SSB, or just Squirt, was bought at Meijer’s at 11:30 on Saturday, February 4th, for 19¢. A group of Bees were out shopping for craft supplies to put together their Chairman’s presentation and had been going from store to store looking for what they needed. The first store – Michel’s – had been conveniently located next to a Petco, where the idea of a Team Pet (I mean, we’re a family! And all families need a pet!”) came from. By the second store, every item looked at was mentioned along side ‘how about a fish, too,’ at the third store one student discovered he had brought his wallet, and by the time we reached Meijer’s we were chanting ‘Team Fish!’ while skipping through the store to where they kept the fish tanks.

Squirt started his life happy in our CAD room. We bought him a bowl and food, and cleared out a whole square shelf of storage for his bowl to sit in. We made him a name tag, and fed him carefully – even making a feeding chart to ensure he received the correct amount of nutrients a day. At lunch time we introduced our SSB to the rest of the team. One mentor predicted that “This will be the year remembered as ‘the year we got the fish.’” Indeed, things looked up for Squirt, so surrounded by love and support.

But, there were complications none could have predicted. Around 3:00, Squirt started settling to the bottom of his bowl. One mentor assured us he was sleeping, or just tired from having so many people around. Another mentor told us that Squirt – as a 19¢ gold fish – wasn’t supposed to live that long. In fact, he was meant to be food for bigger fish. (This information was followed with descriptive stories of how his starfish attacked and ate fish like Squishy. I was grateful most Chairman’s girls had left by then.) By around 4, we started becoming suspicious that Squirt was not in fact sleeping, and eventually brought out a stick to gently poke him with. After several pokes and still no movement, Squirt was officially declared dead.

A boy proudly carried Squirt in his bowl above his head in an all-male funeral procession to the boy’s bathroom, where laughing was heard while the remaining girls grieved.
Perhaps it was the lack of light he received on his shelf, or maybe the sink water in his bowl wasn’t clean enough. Maybe we didn’t clean the bowl itself enough before putting it in, or maybe he just wasn’t meant to live.

Regardless of the cause, the ending doesn’t change.  
We will always remember how gold his scales were, and how he used to blow bubbles. We all have fond memories of how he ate his food, and was promoted to safety captain after less than fifteen minutes on the team. Perhaps, had he lived long enough, he could have one day driven our robot in the Hybrid mode. Now, with his passing, we will never know. So much potential, flushed away.

A list has already been made of preparations we would have to undergo before replacing fish, for the pain of Squirt’s loss is still a fresh hole that needs to be filled. I ask you, my fabulous female FIRSTers, for your fish-keeping advise, to help let any fish that may replace our SSB live longer than five hours.
I’m Scoutette, Buzzing off.

Just A Note...

The next posts, with some exceptions, are about bonding experiences within Team 33. Feel free to use these ideas to create your own team unity, or just sit back and enjoy the hilarity of Scoutette and her lovely accounts on her adventures in FIRST.

But as a slight judge of impartiality, I'd go against the idea of team pets....

HappBee

The Best of Both Worlds

On January 7, 2012, Christmas came 352 days early for me. The Game Design Committee played Santa Claus, and FIRSTmas did NOT disappoint.

Most of you probably share the same sentiment, as it’s one of the best days of the year. Kickoff: the one day where every idea counts, a level playing field is handed out by FIRST and every team starts with a clean slate. It’s similar to the fresh and brand-new feeling you get on the first day of school…just exponentially better. Sitting in the Chrysler Museum and watching the broadcast from New Hampshire, I was just as anxious as the next avid FIRST-er. However, when the game was announced, two seemingly unrelated aspects of my life collided. You could see the little ginger Ellen in pantone 123-C bouncing up and down like a kid on Christmas morning. As a two-year varsity basketball player and a Killer Bee, I was absolutely ecstatic.

Rebound Rumble lit a fire under my belly. As a girl, it’s hard to have confidence in yourself to believe that you truly DO know what you’re talking about. However, I knew as well as anyone else that if I know something, it’s basketball. Somewhat surprisingly, my mentors and fellow Bees picked up on this concept as well. The day after Kickoff, my Bee buddies Demi, Jess, and Mama Green all went outside to the driveway in the harsh Michigan weather for a little lesson I’d like to call Bee Basketball 101.

Demi, a rather vertically challenged and non-athletic Bee, openly admits that she knows absolutely nothing about basketball. In my impromptu lesson/strategy session, I went back to the basics. I began playing basketball in sixth grade. In my WannaBee years, I was basketball player and a member of my middle school’s FLL team, which was then (and currently) mentored by Killer Bee parents and students. Trying to teach my counterparts, I thought back to what my sixth grade coach would tell my team so that we hopefully might score a few baskets in the entire game. “Use the backboard…put some arc under your shot…use your legs…” The whole shebang.

After some intense sixth-grade basketball physics, we went inside and did our real research for the game. It was awesome to finally connect that what my seemingly crazy coaches tell me actually connects to real science and physics that can be portrayed in this year’s game. In the days since Kickoff, my shot has improved consistently because I’m constantly focused on the mechanics of how I shoot the rock versus how a robot could do it. Thanks, Dean! As well as helping myself improve at a personal skills level, this year’s game has also shown how my FIRST friends support me in real life. On my latest Friday night game, four of my FRC friends from three teams, respectively, came out to support my sister and me. I found it hilarious to see all four of them up in the stands with the same facial features, clearly attempting to analyze the sport of basketball itself. The fact that my friends dragged themselves out of the tedious stages of design and early building truly showed me the spirit of both Coopertition and Gracious Professionalism. If you’re reading this, thanks guys.

I’m anxiously anticipating Comp season now, because I’m ready to see how this year’s game plays out on a mechanism and strategy level. I’m also very interested to see how similar the strategies and concepts that I use on the basketball court can be translated onto the field. After all, Kickoff may be like Christmas day, but nothing can be compared to the energy and excitement and exhilaration the night before the first competition.

Two Sides To Every Story

            From a guy’s perspective, it’s interesting having so many girls on the team. There’s so many new points of view (and the bot cave is so much cleaner), but there’s a lot more drama than with a mainly guys’ team. It’s definitely better, though, because guys (much as we hate to admit it) aren’t perfect. Between the better qualities of the guys and those of the girls, perfection is within the team’s grasp.

            It’s especially special working with the writing team. Usually there are about ten Bees in the CAD room, as we call it (though we don’t do CAD in here), three of which are male. The higher concentration of girls on the team this year has vastly increased the amount of writing that we can do during build season. That is not unusual; what is unusual is the high number of girls also working on building the robot.

            So how do I feel about the increasing proportion of girls on the team? I don’t mind. It seems to have improved the team, and that’s what I – and, I believe, most guys – care about. To bee concise, My point of view is: don’t worry, bee happy. It’s all going to bee sweet.

Scout

Life of a Robot-Bando

While they may not seem similar, playing an instrument in band and FIRST actually have a lot in common. Both band and robotics have very close-knit families that care about each other and these families overlap a lot. Many robotics kids are also band kids. In fact, many kids come to robotics meetings straight from after school jazz band. 

Because we spend so much time together, we are all very close and know how to have some serious fun. Whether it is singing our marching band music at the top of our lungs, doing our celebration dance routines at competitions, or practicing for Just Dance battles, band-robot kids know how to have a good time. 

Many of the bandos come and support our team at competitions and we watch videos of the robot in band class. From band camp, to competitions, to football games, Bandos and FIRST-ers stick together. Our memories and friendships will last forever.

Padawan

Drama Llamas

We all know it exists. Although it is avoided at all costs, throughout the course of high school it is undoubtedly inevitable. Drama. And I’m not talking Shakespeare or the adventures of Dorothy. I’m talking about girl-drama. You know, the gossip, the rumors, and excessive backstabbing that seems to be a developmental stage in the life of every girl. My fellow sufferers of this black plague of adolescence; do not fret. It is simply that: a stage. Soon enough, it will pass, but here are some of my thoughts that will help you through the stress, angst, and general perturbed-ness of high school relationships.

The key to surviving high school is simple, yet ultimately complex at the same time. My theory is that the sooner you find “your people,” the sooner you will enjoy the impending years of high school. Create some standards when searching for friends. Maybe it involves having similar extracurricular activities or interests. Maybe you need a companion or confidant. Think about what you look for in a friend, and try to emulate that in your own behavior. Also, for your own sake, remain reserved. It’s better to wait and find a true friend before spouting your life story to anyone with ears. You’re less likely to get hurt and more likely to make a great friend.

Now, my objective is to defame some common myths about high school. First of all, high school is most definitely NOT the best time of your life. It’s up there, but I can argue to the death that the Little Mermaid and bubble baths were ten times more fun than ACT prep. FIRST remains to be the only exception I’ve seen in my wise years. Unless you’re into multiple-choice, then by all means, eat your heart out. Next, I’d like to remind everyone that despite popular belief, the terms “Just saying” “No offense” “Literally” “Like, like, like, you know what I mean” and “If I was you” do not justify the impending insult. Really, it doesn’t shroud anything. It doesn’t even soften the blow, it just lets you know it’s coming. As a blanket statement, say what you mean. If you wouldn’t appreciate it being said to you or about you, it’s best that you don’t say it either.

Gossip. Asking someone not to tell anyone what you’re about to tell them is counterintuitive. Unless you’re speaking to the most pious, trustworthy person around, the rumor will spread. Somewhere in the teenage brain, we are hardwired to talk and spread gossip unintentionally. Most times, things just slip out. To keep everyone content, it’s generally better not to confide in someone unless you completely trust the person. Parents and other influential adults are a much better rant option. Bless their souls, they don’t know much about what’s going on, but they certainly do an exquisite job at nodding and pretending. To limit possible intercessions by those dear elders, start off by stating your intent with the rant. Everything is either a rant or a serious issue where you require their assistance. Any other distinction will confuse them.

Now we approach the meat of the matter. What do I do when I’m fighting with someone? Fear not, Padawan. Take a deep breath. It’s really not as big of a deal as you think it is at the moment. Look at the situation and create a plan of action. You have a few options. You can confront them, confide in someone, think of resolutions, apologize, or a combination of the above ideas. Chances are, you are either facing a clash of personalities or a simple misunderstanding. If it is the latter, talk it through as mature people. No hair grabbing or scratching is necessary. Words will do just fine. Remember, their feelings are just as important as yours, so remain respectful. Here comes our best buddy, Gracious Professionalism. Keep it with you at all times, and never leave home without it. It’ll help you out in any dilemna and save some friendships along the way.  Compromise and conversation will not only erase your issue, but also give you an escape from the perils of drama. The stickier situation arises with personality clashes. Analyze the situation and measure the severity of the difference. If you have an archenemy that pushes all of your buttons and grinds all of your gears, it may be better to give yourself some space. If you clash on one issue, use compromising techniques and grow as a person through this conflict. It will not kill you; therefore it will inherently make you stronger. A note on serious issues: get help if you need help. Mentors and adults are here to work as mediators to make your team as productive as possible. In the end, everyone has strengths and shortfalls. If you play to everyone’s strengths, your team will succeed despite slight turbulence along the way. No matter what, work together. A great team wins, loses, and grows together.

That’s as much on the matter as I care to say at the moment. Leave some requests and I’ll add some additional commentary on how drama can be resolved in a less dramatic manner, therefore ending the he-said she-said cycle once and for all! Alas, that seems like too big a feat for one person. Nevertheless, I will keep trying. Stay flawless, FIRST girls.

Love,

HappBee

33 Ways to Stay Focused on Homework during Build Season

1. Sheer Willpower
2. Banish your phone from where you do homework… or it’s existence altogether.
3. Become a hermit and make sure you’re alone for maximum focus-itude
4. Have everything you could possibly need close by so that you can’t be distracted.
5. Make a checklist of what you need to do.
6. Sheer Willpower
7. Set a personal goal to accomplish homework by a set time.
8. Reward yourself when you finish. (Ex: Rave, Mountain Dew, Internet memes)
9. Bribe yourself with an award for when you finish. If it works for toddlers, it’ll work for you.
10. Coffee is a miracle drink that enhances focus tenfold…you’ll need a bathroom nearby.
11. Sheer Willpower
12. Tea is a wondrous drink that enhances focus by a factor of 101
13. If you’re too tired, sleep. There is a point where productivity was SO three hours ago.
14. If you are up past 3:33, don’t sleep. It will make you more tired. Besides, sleep is for the WEAK. Or less-procrastinating…Jury’s still out on that one.
15. Resist the urge to visit the “gorgon” (the wondrous World Wide Web)
16. Exercise! Blood flow will wake you up and refresh your brain. Pushups and sit-ups work in cramped areas…five minutes of pain creates a whole lot of gain.
17. Take a break from a specific subject after about 30 minutes, switch gears and do other homework.
18. Instrumental music or other soothing music that you find relaxing.
19. Stay at a workplace, you’ll find you’re more productive than in a comfy place like your bed or a couch. Consistently do your homework in the same place so temptations are always at bay.
20. Don’t multitask, let’s not lie, you just want to watch TV, watching SpongeBob won’t help you with your biology homework.
21. Sheer Willpower
22. Remind yourself that your life will end if you don’t do this. (Bad grades=No robots=life over)
23. Remind yourself that you can sleep if you do this.
24. Encourage yourself by saying that you will get good grades and therefore be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities (FIRST!!) if you finish this.
25. Turn off the Internet if you don’t need it.
26. Sheer Willpower
27. For studying, record and listen to a study device, like vocabulary, during a break.
28. Think about how your team is depending on you to stay on the team by keeping your grades up.
29. Pace around for a bit to get your blood flowing.
30. Blow bubbles or do something childish to get creative and imaginative. Crayons are magical, especially in lab reports.
31. Sheer Willpower
32. If you desperately need sleep, attempt to transfer information to your brain through diffusion by sleeping on your textbook. (Studies notwithstanding)
33. Use your official Killer Bee antennae to stay focused through yellow and black awesomeness. If you don’t have antennae, ask a teammate for help!

~ GadgetGal and MagnetMan (Saving the pressured robotics kids, one blog at a time)

The Miracles of Time Management: IB and FIRST Robotics

Yes, I am on a FIRST Robotics team. Obviously. I am also lucky enough to be an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme candidate for 2013. For those of you who don’t know, the IB is an advanced class track, for which it is possible to obtain college credit, similar to AP. I have a full schedule of advanced classes, and advanced classes = homework. However, I miraculously seem to be surviving pretty well for now. You know, with schoolwork, FIRST, a myriad of other clubs (at least one a day), and a few hours of sleep and eating fit somewhere in the day. Maybe. If I’m lucky.

Okay, it’s not really that bad. I do have time to eat and sleep every day. My homework gets done. It’s really all about time management. I don’t have time to procrastinate. I usually try to get some homework done at lunch. Right after school gets out, I go to club meetings and/or do homework until the FIRST meeting. When I get home afterward, I retreat to the confines of my bedroom to again do homework. Many of the assignments I get are long-term, so that gives me more flexibility in deciding when to do what so that I can get all of my schoolwork done most efficiently (and correctly).

…This is really starting to sound like I have no life. But I do, I swear! I talk to friends in school, at meetings, and at home, sometime between homework assignments. We spend time together outside of organized activities mostly on the weekends.

Though I do get a lot of homework, and I am involved in many activities, I am living proof that it is possible to be in the IB, on a FIRST team, and still have a life. It’s just a matter of knowing yourself, knowing your limits (you don’t want to pass out from exhaustion in class, trust me), and knowing how to keep yourself focused.

~ GadgetGal

The Terrors of Travel: A St.Louis Story!

For all those traveling, you may find one thing in common; bus rides. Oh, yes. The joys of Ol’ Louie are preluded by a – in my case, 14 hour– bus ride. How fun, being cramped in a vehicle with a score of teenagers until the world ends. Then someone has to go to the bathroom, and you wish the world would end. Then a movie is pulled out, and World War XXXIII starts. When the movie is finally chosen, you miss the kid you used to babysit who watched Barbie and colored on your face. You try to fall asleep, but you got to the bus late and are stuck next to the stinky-kid who takes up half your seat. Your book loses all appeal. Your friends have fallen asleep. The mentors have fallen asleep. The stinky-kid is drooling near your shoulder. You flinch at the smell, because you know it really is contagious. The movie keeps playing. You begin to wonder if it’s worth it, and consider running away at the next rest stop. Then, like a wasp’s sting, a thought hits you and gets stuck in your head, aching, unable to be pulled out without being acknowledged. You could have avoided this. Carpool. It saves the earth, and saves you from stinky-kid solitude. Friends who drive together, sit together. Or you could just show up on time. You’re traveling to the national championship of FIRST robotics, you really should be excited enough to wake up. The early bird catches the choice seat.

Guard the bathroom. Do not use it, do not allow your friends to use it. Spread awareness. Do not let anyone use the bathroom. Set up monitoring shifts during the night to guard the bathroom from all would-be users. Install cameras so all perpetrators may be caught and brought to justice. Do not use the bus bathroom. Your mentors are not stupid, they planned time for rest stops. Don’t be stupid. Use the rest stops. Try to plan out what movies will be watched ahead of time. Don’t force the men to watch Chick Flics, and they won’t play their Macho Movies. Hopefully.

And do try to convert the stinky-kid to Hygenism. It’s a life-long program, but results show in the first day. Last of all, make sure your carry-ons are as small as possible. The less room taken by bags, the more room your team has to exist. And I’ll bet your team likes to exist. But even if you plan your trip accordingly, there are still a million ways for your bus ride to flop. Let’s face it, too much girl time with too many people is asking for drama; real or fake. But there’s nothing I can do about that, my fabulous female FIRSTers. The rest is up to you.

I’m Scoutette, Buzzing off.

Bee-ing a NewBee

Being a new Lady Bee can be pretty scary, especially if you’re a freshman at a new school. There are new teachers, new mentors, and new fellow students/teammates. It can be difficult at first to merge yourself into the new world you’ve found. Don’t fret. You’re not alone. There are many opportunities to initiate yourself as an official member of the robotics team you just joined.

First of all, it’s a good idea to find a fellow freshman that you can relate to. Chances are there’s another new member that feels just as lost and scared as you are. It may not help you get situated within the team itself, but you can feel a little more relaxed knowing that someone is just as confused as you are. By working together you two will eventually obtain your goal of being productive team members.

 Also, don’t be afraid to ask mentors or upperclassmen for advice. There’s a low possibility that they’ll attempt to bite you for talking to them. Don’t be afraid of bothering them by asking, “What’s this? What about that? What does this do?” It’s part of their job to pass down knowledge so that the team can continue to be successful after the other members graduate.

Don’t be afraid to even volunteer yourself. It’s okay to try something new; don’t feel that just because you don’t know anything about how to make what they need or about the program that they use that you won’t be able to learn it. You’re a freshman so you have plenty of time to practice and play around until you’re flawless.

So put yourself out there and try new things; being a freshman shouldn't limit you in a robotics team. It’ll be stressful at times but I assure you that it will worth it for all the fun you have.

Rika Bee

Buzziness from the Senior Queen Bee

For years, I’ve been almost completely surrounded by guys. Depending on your point of view, this can either be a very good thing or a very bad thing. I am the only senior girl on our team and I couldn’t be happier with our growing population of mini Queen Bees. For the first two years I was on the team, we had about five or six girls and we were obviously outnumbered. Last year we had 12 girls and this year we have a total of 18 girls and 21 guys. This gives us a unique point of view on problem solving as well as a plentiful supply of estrogen. We are getting more girls interested in science and technology but we also teach them how to have fun—Killer Bee style. Once you enter our CAD room through the portal to Narnia, you are immediately enchanted by the overwhelming sense of fabulousness in the room. When the room is holding a large number of our “Killer” girls (which is quite often) you’ll hear conversations about the Hunger Games—Team Peeta vs Gale, Chairman’s Award discussions, minions being assigned and claimed by upper classmen, and antennae making strategies being exchanged. This is all accompanied by a soundtrack of Disney music, the Jonas Brothers, and Jesse McCartney. The primary export of the CAD room is antennae. Soon after learning how to use the Red Menace and the sander in the shop, rookies are taught the fine art of antennae making, including using beads to make bee-utiful personalized antennae. But of course, our fantabulousness is not just contained in our workspace. We bring the buzz of the hive wherever we go, whether it be practicing our Celebration dance routine for Marching Band, sniping pictures of lax bros from afar, or taking over the hotel lobby to play Just Dance, our Queen Bees know how to get down.

<3 Emmabee

What Would MacGyver Pack?

There’s nothing like waking up to go to St. Louis.

There’s also nothing like waking up and realizing you haven’t packed. Don’t be the roommate who steals all their roomies stuff. Pack ahead of time and double check everything you’ve packed. For those without past trips, or those who just don’t remember what to bring, here are a few important things to remember. Hygiene products. Hygiene products. Hygiene products. Have a stick of deodorant with you at all times, you’ll need it. When sharing a hotel room, there’s not enough
free shampoo to go around. Bring your own. Don’t make me explain the need for a tooth brush. If you’re like me and your hair takes all day to dry, then bring a blow dryer. If you can’t live with your natural hair, then bring a straightener, curler, hairspray, gel, bacon grease, pixie dust, or whatever else you need with you. Having enough hair ties to supply the team is also not a bad idea.
Also, bring lots of feminine products. You may not need them yourself, and there are convenience stores in St. Louis, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Imagine you’re MacGyver as you pack; is there any possibility it will help, and will it fit in your bag? On this vein of sharing, stuff a few Band Aids in your purse or wallet. If you have something magical and unrealistic called ‘space,’ then try fitting some aspirin as well. There are some things duct tape can’t fix, and I like to imagine headaches and open wounds somewhere on that list.

Bring enough clothes for every day, including socks. I’m sure you’ve noticed their bad habit of running away, and being the only piece of clothing that truly stinks at the end of the day. Yet, they seem terribly overlooked while being packed. Please don’t overlook them. Bring all of your
team shirts as well. If you don’t wear them all, you can trade them. If you cannot sleep in day-clothes, bring your pajamas. In my personal experience I have found that I cannot sleep in day-clothes anywhere except St. Louis. Maybe you’re the opposite, so if there’s room, bring pajamas just in case. Shave before leaving. No roommate wants you hogging the bathroom and clogging the
drain. Don’t even bring shaving utensils to tempt yourself with. It’s not that long; you won’t turn into a gorilla.

I would suggest bringing a small book, just in case you have down time. There will only be time for homework on the bus, and really shouldn’t be time for more than a quick chapter anywhere else. If you find yourself with time to read War and Peace, strike up a conversation with a teammate. They are there for your entertainment. Other than that, use common sense. If you’re
a germophobe, then bring some wet wipes. If you’re allergic to sunlight, air, and peanuts, then bring an EpiPen. If you’re afraid of a zombie apocalypse, then roll up a magic carpet in the hidden bottom of your bag just in case – I hear they’re great for fast getaways. Anything else that you can’t live without, bring that too.But – my fabulous female FIRSTers – no matter what else
you may or may not remember to bring, never forget your Bee Pillow Pet.


I’m Scoutette, Buzzing off.

A World of FIRSTs

I just started dating my first boyfriend. Ready for this? He’s my FIRST boyfriend. Yes, I know. Facepalm. The pun police are after me, so I’ll keep it short.

I’m new to all this. Before my macho man, I never even had a serious crush. I’m well versed in admiring beauty and having guy friends – but what happens when it steps up? What does that even mean? Maybe you aren’t on the same below-novice level I’m on, but adapting to dating life is a problem for all girls.

What comes first, holding hands or hugging? So, it’s official now; do I act like we’re still just close friends, or stare him down with bedroom eyes? Do all our inside jokes from pre-dating life still
count? Am I allowed see him if I’m wearing sweats and have coffee breath? How do you go from friend to boyfriend without a hitch?

I haven’t figured it out yet, but when I find a secret to making life perfect, I promise you write you a full written report. Likewise, should you unravel this mystery, I expect simple step-by-step
instructions, with plenty of pictures. For now, all I can tell you is to do what feels right. Cheesy, but
think about it. We’re social creatures. We were made to form relationships; it’s in our most primitive biology. There has to be some primal coding that’s right. And if your autonomous mode runs into walls, there’s always tele-op time for you to straighten out.

Yes, the pun police have a special cell for me. I’m cornier than Maize Craze. Just don’t be afraid to ask for advice, and never be afraid of talking things out with him - or at him, if that’s your style. Whether it’s together or separate, figure things out. He shouldn’t blow up because you don’t know everything, and if he doesn’t know everything then you shouldn’t blow up either. There is a reason you’re dating him, right?

Hugs and kisses, my fabulous female FIRSTers.
I’m Scoutette, Buzzing off.

The Secret Water Game

I don’t know about you, but my life is pretty hectic. I write to you during the Christmas season, when life has decided to stop being predictable and everything seems to be piling up. Midterms start in a day, I’ve only brainstormed what to get for few of all the people I love, and all my extra activities are trying to cram all they can in before winter break. It feels like every time I try to work on something I just fall further down an icy sledding hill, backwards, and without a sled. I sit down to a pile of studying and bash my head against the wall. If I finish before I pass out, I might remember this thing called ‘showering.’ There’s no way I’m waking up early for it, and it’s too cold to go out with wet hair anyway.

Bite the bullet. Take the shower.

You and I both know that as soon as Robot Season starts, there will be days we walk around stinking. I know there will be days when I do the math wrong, don’t inhale enough coffee, and thus don’t make it to the shower. If you’re a girl who likes primping, I wish you the best of luck. I am under the firm belief that females with such time have either found secret Time Turners, grown a second pair of hands, or otherwise cheated life itself. For all those mere mortals, I’m with you. Perhaps we will also find our own Time Turners one day, or maybe next years game challenge will be toadd hours to the day – while underwater. In fact, you may consider this fight for hygiene the secret water game: can you build a robot, while keep clean?

Best of luck to all of you, my fabulous female FIRSTers.
I’m Scoutette, Buzzing off.

10 Things To Do When: You're trying to get you point across to a boy and they just won't listen.

1. STOP! Calm yourself down. If you aren’t able to calm yourself down and understand
your side of the argument then they will never understand it, either.

2. THINK! Think about how to convey your issue so it is more easily understood. Some
people learn better visual. Think of a picture or diagram that you can use to
explain your point.

3. SLOW! Slower is better than faster. By talking slowly and more fully explaining what
you mean, the other person will understand quicker. Ranting is incoherent and
won’t help your argument.

4. SERIOUS! Show the person that you’re serious about your argument. If it means a lot to
you, show that. If the person doesn’t take you seriously or can’t listen to you, try talking to someone else who can help explain your idea to others. A different perspective can always help.

5. AWARE! Make sure you’re aware of what’s going on. If the person you’re talking to is
doing something, wait until you have their complete attention.

6. FOOD! Everyone likes food. Bribery is rudimentary, but effective. This works on the
Killer Bees with tacos and Mountain Dew.

7. PERSIST! If at first you don’t succeed, try thirty-three more times, then try again.

8. ASK WHY! If after explaining your argument you still haven’t reached an agreement,
ask why. There’s always a reason, but some reasons aren’t as good as others.

9. CONFRONT! Confront the person as an equal. Everyone adopts a superior attitude sometimes.This shouldn’t be tolerated, but remember to stay poised and respectful.
Gracious Professionalism is a potent compromising technique. Just like Woodie
says, pretend that your grandma is watching!

10.  PERSEVERE! If they keep fighting and knocking down your ideas, don’t give up hope. At the same time, remember that FIRST is all about teamwork. Moving on does not constitute giving up. Keep looking for new and greater ideas as the season progresses.
-Battery Bee

Girls of FIRST

This blog is the work of FIRST Robotics Team 33, The
Killer Bees. As a very large team of forty kids with 18 girls and 22 boys, we
recognize that FIRST is full of learning opportunities for both genders. As
girls in FIRST, it is necessary to remain assertive and balanced. Girls are
part of the team too. This is a blog where girls of FIRST are encouraged to
share experiences, talk, and maybe learn a thing or two.  
Good Luck to you and your team this year!