--- title: FIRST taught me valuable coding and leadership skills description: FIRST is a global robotics community preparing young people for the future and the world’s leading youth-serving nonprofit advancing STEM education. image: https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/395x380-Hero-Christina_Li.jpg --- ### Christina Li *FIRST* Alumna, *FIRST* Robotics Competition Team 217, The Thunder Chickens, of Sterling Heights, Michigan White House Science Fair participant *FIRST* is not only about robots; it's about learning. On my *FIRST *Robotics Competition team, The Thunder Chickens, I learned how to code from our mentors. It was really cool to see my code controlling an actual robot. I got really interested in computer science. For most of my time on the team, I was the only female programmer. *FIRST* gave me the skills and confidence to help change lives in my community. As a result, I was inspired to create a tech camp to help close the gender gap in engineering and introduce more girls to computer science. I named the camp ‘Hello World’ because I wanted girls to say hello to computer science. The phrase, which is the first thing many programmers type out in a new computer science language, is symbolic of all the possibilities with computer science. I hope to show girls that their ability is unlimited. *In 2017, Christina, who is studying computer science and mechanical engineering with a focus on robotics at Stanford University, was featured on [CNN Heroes](http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2017/12/15/cnnheroes-li-young-wonder-orig.cnn) for helping close the gender gap in the tech world.* [ Share Your Story](https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5d5985a569d8423b8a0739c9efa27cea) ** [Supporters](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/supporters) #### Share it: [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://community.firstinspires.org/first-helps-kids-gain-valuable-skills) [** ](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://community.firstinspires.org/first-helps-kids-gain-valuable-skills) [** ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://community.firstinspires.org/first-helps-kids-gain-valuable-skills) ![Default Author Image](https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/Community%20Blog%20v2/images/FIRST-author-icon.svg) Author [Admin](https://community.firstinspires.org/author/admin) ### Related Posts ** [Team Stories](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/team-stories) FIRST inspires Cleveland’s championship team July 3, 2018 ** [Mentor Stories](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/mentor-stories) FIRST: The launch pad for the future of youth July 13, 2017 ** [Parents & Families](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/parents-families) FIRST changed my son’s life December 1, 2017 ![](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)