Calorx Olive International School
Rebuilding, Reaching Out, and Growing Stronger
We began this season as a brand-new team, navigating the excitement and challenges that come with building something from the ground up. While Nationals marked a major milestone for us, it also brought an unexpected hurdle—we lost four team members. Rather than slowing us down, this moment pushed us to think differently about growth, resilience, and community.
Our journey with Calorx Olive International School began at their Science Fair, where we had the opportunity to showcase our robot to over 300 students and educators. Through live demonstrations, conversations, and hands-on explanations, we introduced the audience to FIRST and its mission of promoting STEM through real-world problem-solving. The overwhelming curiosity and enthusiasm we witnessed that day laid the foundation for a meaningful connection.
Building on that momentum, two of our teammates took the lead in reaching out to interested students, sharing their personal experiences in FTC and sparking deeper conversations—one interaction at a time. To further nurture this interest, our entire team organized an interactive workshop for Grades 9 and 10, designed to transform curiosity into action.
During the workshop, we:
- Introduced the FIRST Tech Challenge and its global impact
- Shared our journey as a rookie team, including challenges and lessons learned
- Demonstrated our robot and broke down its key mechanisms
- Gave students hands-on experience with Arduino kits, encouraging experimentation and creativity
The impact was immediate and encouraging. Four students have already stepped forward, eager to join FTC, and we are excited to see many more young innovators follow. What began as a simple showcase has now grown into a thriving outreach pathway, turning challenges into opportunities and curiosity into commitment.
As we continue rebuilding and expanding, we remain committed to empowering students, strengthening our community, and inspiring the next generation—one robot, one conversation, and one spark of curiosity at a time.
