Robots and Real- life lessons

First Lego League doesn’t just require you to build robots, contrary to what many people believe. You also build bonds that last.

In this article, I'll discuss some lessons I learned from FLL that really made a difference in how I approach challenges, both inside and outside of FIRST.

Failure is a part of the process

Your robot will not work on the first try. Nor will it work the second, or the third. Sometimes your attachment won’t pick up what you want it to, or your sensors fail, or a wheel will just… stop working. (These are all things that happened to our team.) 

It can feel incredibly disheartening to see all your hard work get reset by some small unaccounted issue. 

After multiple times I spent getting frustrated over failures, I realized that all of this really just means that you’re a step closer to finding the solution! 

The best thing you can do is to understand that failures are a stepping stone to success, and you can learn from them to get the run through you’re expecting. Don’t get discouraged!!! ✺◟(＾∇＾)◞✺

Remember, the internet is a wonderful place to look for help, and if you can, try to reach out to other teams to see if they can help as well! A particularly good place is the FTC discord. There’s normally always an answer somewhere on there, or someone will answer pretty quickly.

Time management is IMPORTANT!

Time management isn’t the most fun part to think about, but it’s an incredibly important skill I learnt from FIRST. More often than not, I put off finishing code or figuring out positioning, thinking that we had lots of time before competition season. I soon learned that wasn’t the case, and this led to a time crunch and frantic last minute adjustments. Try setting clear goals for each week, and remember that it’s okay to not reach them! 

ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

Core values live up to their name

When I first joined FLL, I thought core values were a bunch of words that had no major importance. Little did I know, Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork, and Fun would be in Every. Single. Meeting.

The core values are truly the foundation of FIRST. The point of this competition is to learn more about others, your society, and the skills that you’ll take with you after the season is over. 

Looking back, FLL was really more than just a competition. I learned about how to positively contribute to my community, how to work efficiently, and most importantly, I made connections that’ll last a lifetime. FLL was a truly invaluable experience, and I'm sure you’ll agree. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope it’ll benefit you and your team!!! Have a positively spectacular season!! ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡

If you have any questions, you can reach us at astrobytes2025@gmail.com

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