My name is Miranda and I’m a senior. This is my fourth year on the team, but my 6th year in FIRST. I was first introduced to FIRST at the 2005 IRI, when I competed in the VEX event they held that year. Since my freshman year, I have been a member of the Design sub team, and was designated as the Design Lead this year. In addition, I have been a Scouting Lead since my freshman year. Before that initial experience in 2005, I had not known anything about robotics or engineering. Up until that point, I was sure I wanted to be an architect. But then, something incredible happened. I was sitting in the auditorium at the high school, listening to descriptions of classes to make my schedule for freshman year, and Scott Ritchie was talking about engineering. I was so detached from everything going on, except for what he was speaking of. It was there, in that room, while he was talking, that I knew I wanted to be an engineer.

Knowing that, I have spent the last four years, observing and learning as much as possible. I completely changed my schedule around to accommodate all the new and exciting classes involving engineering I wanted to take. I also planned my schedule so I could have an internship my senior year. Luckily, I succeeded in securing an internship with sponsor, Rolls-Royce during first semester, and currently have an internship with another of our sponsors, Allison Transmission, which one of our mentors, Kevin Kelly helped me to get. My robotics experiences prepared me greatly for my internships, and assumedly, for college and a career in engineering.

I plan on attending either Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Purdue University to double major in Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Engineering. I also plan to have a co-op at either Rolls-Royce or Allison Transmission during college as well.

Outside of robotics, I also participate in National Honor Society; Falcon TV, our live morning announcements crew, where I am a Director; Creative Writing Club; Schools for Schools; and I take three dance classes outside of school weekly.

My goal for this year is to pass on all the knowledge I have attained in my years on the team to the younger members, so Cyber Blue can continue down the trail of excellence it has blazed.