FIRST® Alum Turned Mentor Earns Scholarship and Pursues STEAM
João is a FIRST® alum and mentor who is helping students discover the same passion for STEAM that shaped his own future. A former student team member of FIRST® LEGO® League Team 10659 “Fran Robots,” João has returned as a mentor for this team while also volunteering with FIRST® Robotics Competition in Brazil.
Through the Passaporte para o Futuro SESI-SP scholarship program, João was selected from more than 1,300 applicants to study abroad at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he is pursuing degrees in Computer Science and Data Science. Inspired by his experiences in FIRST, João is committed to using mentorship, technology, and education to create opportunities for young people in his community.
Learn more about João’s journey from FIRST student to mentor, and how he is using STEAM to inspire the next generation.
FIRST Staff: Can you share some information about your current role at Passaporte para o futuro SESI-SP?
João: At Passaporte para o Futuro SESI-SP, I was selected as one of 50 students from more than 1,300 applicants to receive a full scholarship to study abroad at one of the best universities in the world. I am an incoming freshman at the University of California, Santa Barbara where I will study a double major in Computer Science and Data Science.
This decision was heavily influenced by my path within FIRST, where I found my passion for teaching and inspiring through technology, and discovered the power of STEAM to create impactful solutions from simple ideas.
FIRST Staff: What is your favorite part of your current role as FIRST Mentor?
João: One of the happiest moments in my life as a mentor was when my student gave me a folded paper. I opened it and saw green eyes and curly hair... it was me. So, I asked my student, “What is that?”
“It is my homework.”
“Your homework is me?”
“Yes, we needed to draw someone who inspires us!”
That is when I saw my favorite part of being in FIRST. I was inspired by my students’ learning, and I realized that teaching is one of the most beautiful ways to say, “I believe in you.”
FIRST Staff: What is the hardest part of your job?
João: From my point of view, one of the hardest parts is scheduling and balancing my tasks, such as study time, meetings, workshops, and classes. For me, organization is crucial. Another challenging part is that I always try to help people reach their highest potential in all areas at every moment, using different strategies to address every doubt and to explore their knowledge and learning experience.
FIRST Staff: How do you use STEAM skills in your everyday life?
João: STEAM skills are crucial in my daily routine. I truly love sharing them with my students and engaging them by using concepts they have learned in the classroom, taking them off the paper, and applying them to real situations. This has led to the development of AI assistive devices with my team, using engineering, technology, and design.
Beyond robotics, STEAM is also important in my study time as a passport to the future, including math, science, and physics, which supports me in my research and in writing my articles.
FIRST Staff: Can you share your thoughts on the impact of your work in STEAM?
João: I am so proud of my students today because they discovered their love of STEAM and are now sharing this passion with other students. They inspire people to embrace STEAM through Instagram, blogs, technology and sustainability workshops, and national campaigns. I know they will go very far with their incredible minds, because they only asked me for the way, but they were the ones who walked it.
Today, I am also part of other projects such as EmpoderaSTEM, where I share technology, and EcoMaker, where I introduce sustainability and life sciences to young people. I am always doing what I truly love, teaching through STEAM.
FIRST Staff: Who is a “Person of STEAM” who inspires you?
João: I am inspired by Woodie Flowers because he showed me that innovation is not about resources; it is about mindset. He learned [about engineering] with his father by building a car from old pieces in their garage. That taught me that you do not need the perfect lab to learn STEAM; you need curiosity and resilience.
Through the ethos of Gracious Professionalism® and Coopertition® at FIRST, I learned that excellence and empathy can coexist. For me, STEAM without empathy is just technology, but STEAM with empathy is the purpose. That is the impact I want to create.
FIRST Staff: If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
João: You will only be sure you are not able to do something after you try for the first time.
Trying is the key to finding the solution. If you get it wrong, congratulations, you have found a new way that does not work. Change direction and try again.
Your victory in the tournament was not earned that day; it was won in each day of preparation, so every day is a small victory that adds up to the big win.
FIRST Staff: Do you have a message you want to share for students who are participating in FIRST today?
João: Live each day as a unique day in your FIRST career. Make new friends and connections, trade shirts (please clean them first), and enjoy every small victory.
FIRST is an environment where you can be anything you want to be. Believe in your teammates and coach (they will become like your second family) and with them, you will learn more than you can imagine.
From mentoring students to supporting sustainability and technology initiatives, João now uses the STEAM skills he built to help others grow, learn, and see new possibilities for themselves. Whether he is volunteering with FIRST teams or pursuing his studies abroad, he is committed to sharing the impact that mentorship and education can have on a person’s life.
Are you a person of STEAM? Share your story with #PeopleofSTEAM on social media or send us your story at marketing@firstinspires.org.