A Generational FIRST ® Story: Jodi and Barrett Wooten

Imagine this: it’s 1994. You’re a high school senior, and the FIRST® Robotics Competition game is “Tower Power.” The goal? Score as many soccer balls as possible into one of two goals. You’re from Sherman, Texas, where robotics isn’t exactly mainstream, and there’s only one competition, all the way in New Hampshire. 

So, your team rallies together, raises the funds, and flies more than 1,700 miles to compete. Matching shirts, snow on the ground, the thrill of something entirely new, it’s an experience you’ll never forget. 

Fast forward 31 years. That same student, now a mom named Jodi Wooten, is watching her son, Barrett, compete in robotics under FIRST® in Texas. The technology has advanced, the games have evolved, but the energy, excitement, and community remain the same. 

Jodi’s FIRST Journey 

Jodi discovered robotics when one of her counselors nominated her to join the high school team. She admits the real selling point at the time was getting the chance to use computers, something that wasn’t common in classrooms back then. 

Since it was the very beginning of the FIRST Robotics Competition, there was nothing to model after. “There weren’t engineering classes back then,” Jodi recalled. “Being exposed to engineering design and realizing how much fun it actually is, that’s what motivated me to get my degree in manufacturing engineering from Texas A&M.” 

Her favorite memories are of the big competition, the crowds, the cheering, and the excitement that rivaled any athletic event. “It was such a new experience,” she said. “You don’t see that kind of energy in the academic world.” 

That experience shaped her career. Today, Jodi works in data analytics, bridging the gap between technical and business teams. “What I learned in engineering really helped me learn how to talk to the business side and understand what they need on their data side,” she explained.  

When asked what it’s like to see her son following in her footsteps, Jodi smiled. “He doesn’t remember going as much, but I would take him,” she said. “I stayed connected to my coaches, so I came back as a judge or a guest speaker. I took him when he was like three or five. I took him to contests.” 

She had always hoped Barrett would get involved, knowing firsthand how transformative the experience could be. “When he started, had an opportunity to do it in high school, that’s full circle. Really exciting to see.” 

Barrett’s Perspective 

Barrett’s passion for robotics started early. “I always had a thing for driving cars or flying drones or just getting my hands on any kind of robot,” he said. It turns out that passion was planted the moment he first tagged along to one of his mom’s competitions. 

As a member of FIRST Tech Challenge Team 20483 and FIRST Robotics Competition Team 8858, Barrett served as team captain, driver, and design lead. “It was a lot,” he admitted, “but every day I learned more and more along the way.” 

His favorite part? “The little aspects of everything,” he said. “The community is just a great environment, everyone’s friendly and wants to help each other out.” 

That teamwork and camaraderie made a lasting impact. “I’ve been in other sports and other activities,” Barrett said, “but robotics is the place where I found my people.” 

He recalled moments when other teams helped his when they were unprepared. That’s what makes FIRST so special, people helping people. 

Passing the Torch 

FIRST helped Jodi find her path in engineering, and now it’s helping Barrett do the same. He credits the program for improving his communication and leadership skills, and for helping him discover what he wants to pursue: electrical, mechanical, or robotics engineering. 

Some families bond over music or baking, Jodi and Barrett bond over robotics. “It’s nice having a parent who really understands the competition,” Barrett said. “She helps out whenever the team needs it.” 

When asked what advice he’d give to new students, Barrett didn’t hesitate: “Don’t be afraid to join. Some people look down on robotics, but I think everybody should give it a try. There are good people in robotics, and you’ll find good friendships and connections if you just give it a try.” 

What FIRST Means to Them 

Jodi: “A community that gets together and works together to build a better future.”  Barrett: “A fun way to learn.” 

If they were on the same team, Barrett said, “I’d probably take design,more handiwork, build and drive, and I’d be very grateful she was team captain. She’s really good with people.” 

Jodi laughed and agreed. “I am good at coordinating people, making sure everybody’s involved, making sure everything’s organized. So almost similar to what I did in high school.” 

Full Circle 

The Wootens share more than a passion for robotics—they share the lifelong lessons that come with it. Traveling to competitions, cheering in the stands, and swapping stories between matches has deepened their bond in a way few experiences can. 

I want him to have his own journey," Jodi said. "But I'm there, cheering in the stands and helping behind the scenes". Jodi acknowledges that Barrett may get a little embarrassed with his mom around, but Barrett states he’s grateful she’s always there supporting him. 

And for Jodi, seeing how far the program has come is deeply meaningful. 

“Robotics is hard work,” she said, “but it’s worth it. It’s exciting for me to see—I graduated high school 31 years ago, and that’s how long this competition has been around. It’s grown a lot. I was one of the first females on the competition floor, and at the time they were really trying to push females in engineering. That stuck with me. I tell anybody—especially if they don’t know what they want to do in life— ‘Go get an engineering degree.’ It opens so many doors. It did for me. FIRST did that for me.”