--- title: FIRST builds my students into leaders description: Sherry Comer is the afterschool services director for Missouri’s sprawling, rural Camdenton R-III School District. She shares her strategies for using hands-on STEM programs to build kids into leaders who take charge of their own learning and gain skills to succeed in any field. image: https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/sherryc-395x380.jpg --- ### Sherry Comer Camdenton R-III Afterschool Services Director & *FIRST *Mentor ### **I’ve been coaching and mentoring *FIRST *teams in my rural school district for ten years. When I think about what *FIRST *does best, one thing comes to mind: It is to develop leaders**. Inspired by *FIRST* Founder Dean Kamen’s words, “We’re using robots to build kids,” my students came up with the perfect metaphor for all that our team members accomplish by building a robot. Our team, LASER 3284, builds robots to: • Build leadership, which is like the chassis – the foundation of our robot. • Build collaboration skills – like the mechanisms, the part of our robot that helps us work with other teams to complete tasks in alliances.  • Build communication – like the robot’s electronics, the part that sends the messages.  • Build creativity – like the software in the robot, you can’t see it, but it pushes us toward the end goal.  • Build confidence – like the drivetrain, the part of the robot that keeps us moving forward.  • Build critical thinking skills – like the code, where you compile information and declare solutions to problems.  *FIRST *really is a journey – and it isn’t meant for one person to drive the train (or robot).  *FIRST *was always designed to include the masses, to involve diverse students and adults, to include youth with different skill sets, and to produce young people who would become ethical and skilled workers in STEM fields. Ultimately, *FIRST* helps students gain the skills they will use for the future.  In the small town of 201 people I grew up in, we didn’t have access to programs like *FIRST*. I am proud to say that LASER 3284 has since mentored and helped start *FIRST* at that same small school.  Rural areas are often overlooked due to lack of industry.  In those areas, you will often find some of the smartest and skilled members of the future workforce. They have grit and tenacity that others lack. *FIRST *nurtures and builds on those traits. We should push for more rural funding and encourage smaller schools to become involved in *FIRST**.*** ** [Alumni](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/alumni), [Educators](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/educators), [Team Stories](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/team-stories), [Mentor Stories](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/mentor-stories) #### Share it: [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://community.firstinspires.org/first-builds-my-students-leaders) [** ](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://community.firstinspires.org/first-builds-my-students-leaders) [** ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://community.firstinspires.org/first-builds-my-students-leaders) ![Default Author Image](https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/Community%20Blog%20v2/images/FIRST-author-icon.svg) Author [FIRST Staff](https://community.firstinspires.org/author/first) These blog posts have been contributed by members of *FIRST* staff. *FIRST* is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Manchester, N.H. ### Related Posts ** [Volunteers](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/volunteers), [FLL](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/fll) FIRST Volunteers: Meet Eneilis Mulero November 17, 2020 ** [Alumni](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/alumni), [Volunteers](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/volunteers) FIRST volunteers: Meet Katlin Walsh December 10, 2019 ** [Educators](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/educators), [Mentor Stories](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/mentor-stories) Teacher inspires a culture change through high school robotics and crowdfunding June 1, 2020 ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1200203950045814&ev=PageView&noscript=1) ![](https://ct.pinterest.com/v3/?tid=2615041699514&noscript=1) ![](https://ct.pinterest.com/v3/?tid=2615041699514&event=PageVisit&noscript=1)