Lego Robotics Competition

Last weekend Cody participated in his First Lego League Competition.  He and the other children on his team have been getting ready for this for months.  The theme this year was Nature’s Fury.  The children had to pick a natural disaster and plan a way to help the community through this.  Cody’s team picked volcanoes.  By the way, his team was named The Bots.  Cody submitted that name, and all the kids had to vote on their favorite name.  Almost everyone voted for his name.  I really believe it is moments like that where kids get those moments of glory, a feeling of pride to have their idea chosen.  I love those moments for children!  Anyways, the kids also had to program their robot to help retrieve victims and other objects during the calamity.  They had to give a presentation, a skit complete with props to help convey their message on disaster relief efforts during a volcanic eruption.  They had to really do their homework as they were questioned repeatedly about their knowledge of EVERYTHING as they met with various judges in each meeting room.  They also had a challenge in one room for the judges to determine how well they all work together, if one sole person takes over or if they all contribute as a group.  This was all of the children’s first year in this program, so we were all anxious to see what the expectations were this first year.  I have to say, Cody’s team prepared amazingly well for this.  However, when we arrived, our friend Clint, who organized this group from the beginning, learned that very morning that someone (one of the children) had to give a full presentation of their knowledge of the robot and the programming involved to make it run.  Shawn was the team’s coach for the programming and volunteered Cody for the job of speaking to the judges that morning.  Talk about putting Cody on the spot!  First of all, let me just say, there is not enough deodorant in all of Walmart for a nine year old boy having to practice his public speaking before judges!  I remembered back to when my friend Lori invited us and some other children out for breakfast when Cody was in first or second grade.  The kids were all to bring their favorite book and tell why it was their favorite.  I remember Cody froze and could not speak that day.  Even last year he told me at times he felt he couldn’t get his thoughts or emotions to his brain and out of his mouth.  You can imagine the prayers I was sending up for him!  Our first room we met with two judges, and they wanted to hear from Cody.  The air was pierced with silence as everyone was instructed not to make any noise at all while in the room.  Cody began to speak, voice wavering a bit.  Then he paused.  I waited.  Nothing came from him.  I wondered if he was paralyzed with fear.  The older judge prodded, encouraging him to continue, “Tell me about your robot.”  Cody took a breath and began talking, his voice growing stronger and more confident the longer he spoke.   After sharing with the judges his teams’ programming ideas for awhile, Cody’s friend Isaac chimed in.  Then eventually Thomas contributed, then Ethan, and Ellie.  The kids’ voices were a bit shaky at first, but then they all gained a sense of confidence and capability.  They fed off of each other, and Cody was jumping in at many different points to add even more input.  I left that room SOOOO proud of our kids!!  They stayed so composed under pressure and did an awesome job representing their team!  As the day drew on they seemed very comfortable and at ease, now knowing what to expect.  Their answers were quick and intelligent.  Their team spirit was great; they all enjoy each other so much.  At the end of the competition, the judges all voted, and The Bots received the award for Innovation and Strategy.  This award recognizes the team that uses solid engineering practices and a well-developed strategy to design and build an innovative, high performing robot.  The sheer joy on the kids’ faces when their team name was called to come up and receive the award was priceless!  Shawn was in charge of teaching the kids programming week after week, and in the judges’ reports they mentioned how all the children seemed to have a strong grasp and knowledge of the programming concepts and design.  I was so happy for the kids, but also for Shawn.  He gives so much of his time after work to teach our own children and invest time in their lives…seeing the kids holding their award and celebrating made my heart even fonder for him, and I admire him sooo much! He is completely humble, and I truly have so much respect for him!  I wish he knew just how much his love to our family means to us!  Hopefully, we will all do this again next year.  We have learned so much!  Congratulations, Bots!