Since I first encountered robotics in fourth grade through my brother’s friend Jack Shan, I’ve been captivated by the sheer potential of what even a small 18x18x18-inch robot can achieve. Joining my school’s VEX IQ team in fifth grade was a natural next step, and watching Jack win the World Championships that same year was all the motivation I needed to dive deeper.

Under Jack’s mentorship throughout middle and high school, robotics has taught me not only technical skills in engineering and coding but also essential soft skills like teamwork, communication, and leadership. Over the years, I’ve been part of several teams—88909X Inobotics, 77787B World Controllers, and 315N Paradigm—and while each team had its unique dynamics, my role as designer, builder, and drive coach has been consistent. As a designer and builder, I ensure the robot aligns with our driver’s preferences, while, as a drive coach, I guide our strategy during matches, helping our driver stay focused and confident. At tournaments, I also manage alliance discussions, scout teams for alliance selection, and represent our team’s strengths to higher-seeded alliances. One memorable experience with 77787B was creating a reveal video for our robot ahead of the World Championships.

My journey in VEX robotics has been rewarding; my teams have won signature events, local tournaments, and state competitions, receiving nearly every award, including Excellence, Think, Design, Create, and Amaze. Perhaps my proudest accomplishments are consistently qualifying for the World Championships each year since seventh grade, reaching the division quarterfinals twice, and earning the Division Amaze Award at Worlds.