If you are reading this, chances are that you have read my blog before. Assuming you have read this blog before, you probably have not even thought about this blog for about five or six months. The reason you have not thought about this blog for five or six months is probably because I haven't posted on this blog for five or six months. I am about to tell you why.
Hello, my name is Megan, and in the past six months, I have completely changed as a person.
Even though I may not have known it, I have always wanted to be an aerospace engineer. It's a dream that I've been pursuing my whole entire life, not even being aware of it half of the time. I had the grades, the attitude, the ambition, until I hit a small bump in the road.
It all started around January or February of this year. The new semester had started, the FRC build season had been kicked off, my back was starting to feel a heck of a lot better, and life was good. Really, really good.
Classes were going smooth. I liked all of my teachers. (or could at least tolerate all of them...) I was doing the work, turning in my assignments, usually with little effort involved. That's usually how it's gone with me. I've never really had all that much trouble in school.
I was having so much fun with robots, it basically took over my life. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it was in some cases. During the first quarter, I would say to myself "Well, I have an A in the class right now. Missing one homework assignment wouldn't hurt..." and boy was I wrong. I just stopped doing work. My grades were slipping. I became really stressed and not my normal self at all. My teachers were getting mad at me, my parents were getting mad at me, but most of all, I was getting mad at me.
Regionals happened. Probably the greatest experience I have ever had in my entire life. Our robot, Team PyroTech's robot, the robot that 12 dedicated students put all their time and effort into (for the first time even!) was going to compete. We all had it in our minds that as rookies, we would place low and just have the event be a learning experience. After the first day of tinkering, testing, and practice matches, we still had that idea. But after the first day of actual matches, we all realized that we had a shot. This thing that we had all created, together, was amazing. It had brought us far, in the competition, in outreach, and in our team. This 'thing' I'm referring to is not the robot at all, but the bond that we created, the family that we built, in such a short time, to create Team PyroTech. In this period of time, we managed to meet, build a robot, and become a family .At the awards ceremony, we won the Rookie All-Star award. That meant that we basically were the best rookie team there. It meant that we showed effort, enthusiasm, and most importantly, gracious professionalism. That was the absolute best feeling ever. It also meant that we had a spot at the FRC World Championships. Let me say that again-- WORLD. CHAMPIONSHIPS. Very few teams had the honor of going, and a tiny team from rural North Carolina, got to go.
During the short three days of the competition, I realized that the dream I was pursuing, to be an aerospace engineer, wasn't going to happen if I didn't step it up.
About a week passed, and I was doing better in school, but not great. I was still missing assignments in some classes, and grades weren't up by much. But still, my parents were kind enough to let me go to St. Louis for Worlds.
You know that thing about the regional being the greatest experience in my entire life? Scratch that. Worlds was amazing. It litterally changed my life. Dean Kamen, the founder of FIRST (and the inventor of the Segway! :D) was there. Woodie Flowers, the co-founder of FIRST was there. Will Smith was there. Morgan Freeman was there. The Black Eyed Peas were there. Yes, THE Black Eyed Peas. (I did have fun stalking Will.I.Am xD) Seeing all the famous people was fun and all, but that's not the point.
Dean Kamen and Woodie Flowers are the kind of people who make you feel like you can do anything if you listen to them talk for five minutes. When I heard their speeches about being the future of tomorrow, I knew that I really had to kick it up a notch.
In that short period of time that I had with my team, I learned more about life than I had... ever.
I came back wanting to kick it up a notch, and that's exactly what I did. I brought my algebra grade up from a high D to a high C (literally about two tenths of a point away from a B...) my programming grade up from a D to a B, and my biology grade up from a C to an A. For the last ten days of school, I spent two to three hours at a math tutor so I could get my grades up. I stayed for after school help, and that did the trick.
I've been thinking about the title of this blog lately. "The Glass Door." I like it. But stating that there's a door implies that you cannot enter. From now on, this door will be open, to all and to anyone.
Being on that robotics team has really changed my life for the better. Every time I think about the experience that I had, I just feel like hugging every one of my team members. I truly cannot express the love I have for that team. Next season will be even better. To all of my family, I love you, for... well... basically everything. My friends, the same. To all members of Team PyroTech, expect a giant bear hug from me next time I see you. For now, I have to sit back, relax, and enjoy my summer. After that, tenth grade, here I come.
So long
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