Despite obstacles, robotics is truly inspirational

With more than 6,000 robotics teams dedicated to spreading the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), the FIRST Robotics international competition fosters a unique learning environment based on mentorship and a true desire to advance technology for a better future.

Students all across the globe, alongside community mentors, parents and experts in related fields, have a mere six weeks to design, build, program, and perfect a robot to play a specified game and complete designated tasks.

Despite the many benefits associated with participating in such a program, teams in Hawaii face challenges to participate, including funding, travel, access to resources, and the availability of mentors, to name a few. Competing from a neighbor island only exacerbates these problems.

Although the regional competition is held on Oahu, traveling to compete entails much more than just sufficient funding. It is expensive and time-consuming to transport a 120-pound robot, equipment, tools, and team members all to another island for a three-day event.

Because the robot cannot be flown out fully assembled, the team must disassemble and then, immediately following arrival to the competition, reassemble parts of the robot.

Moreover, many teams can afford to start from scratch and build new robots each year. Unfortunately, the single team hailing from Kauai simply cannot do so. Recycling parts and relying on sponsorships or donations are the only ways that our program can sustain itself.

At the end of the season, it is heartbreaking to see the fruits of our labor be torn apart for the sake of saving money. Because a dedicated space and practice field are hard to come by, the team is relegated to working out of old Matson shipping containers. Despite these obstacles, we acknowledge that these methods help keep the program afloat for students to come.

If anyone were to come to Kauai, they would notice the beauty of our island, and the absence of many large industrial corporations in comparison to other islands. The lack of this sector fundamentally equates to a cap, or limit, on the knowledge in the team. Mentorship is one of the pillars of FIRST, and seeking out experienced mentors is made exponentially more difficult because of our isolation.

There always is a desperate need for individuals to donate their time and expertise to help students gain a stronger foundation in STEM-related fields. This is not only beneficial for competing in robotics, but it is crucial for students as they continue their education through and beyond high school.

Funding, community support, mentors and teachers are vital to the long-term sustainability of this program on Kauai. I simply cannot imagine my high school experience without FIRST robotics, and would hate for the students of Kauai to miss out on such a life-changing opportunity. It’s well worth the 200 hours of dedication, the late nights running on caffeine just to stay on schedule, and the losing of our voices from the sheer excitement that we won a match. The feeling of pure happiness from being able to see our blood, sweat and tears score point after point on the field is just incredible.

Hawaii students already come from the most isolated chain of islands in the world, and are not afforded the same opportunities that many of our mainland counterparts have.

However, this inequality should not be a deterrent. With support and guidance, students like myself can go on to universities and work alongside our mainland peers, to advance technology, and build a better tomorrow.

Elizabeth Makizuru is a member of the Kauai High School Class of 2017.