As a recent high school graduate, I feel incredibly thankful for many things involving high school: my friends, teachers, classes, the knowledge I gained, etc. However, there's one key part of what made my high school career so life shaping: FIRST Robotics. Here are 10 of the life lessons I learned during my time on a FIRST Robotics team.

1. Persistence is (as DJ Khaled would say) a major key to success.

My ten fingers are not enough to count how many failures I've faced in robotics that led to successes.

2. You become incredibly close with people whom you're spending 12+ hours on a bus with.

The bus rides actually become somewhat enjoyable after the 16th time that you guys sing "Never Gonna Give You Up".

3. Networking is vital.

The gentleman pictured with me is, in my words, a legend. He built a replica of the Wright Brother's plane which is currently in the Chicago Museum of Science, on top of attending conferences for Google each year. Thank you Ron Robinson for helping out the RoboCats!

4. There is no feeling that compares to hard work paying off.

.

Here are some of my awesome teammates bagging our robot at 11:58 p.m... two minutes before deadline.

5. Community businesses are awesome.

helping their opponent.

6. "Coopertition"

Coopertition- cooperative competition.

Need I say more?

7. Technology is the future.

and you wouldn't have it any other way.

Special shoutout to my family, FIRST Team 379, The Robotcats.