For Carter, FIRST® Tech Challenge is more than a robotics competition. It is where ideas turn into reality, lessons become lasting habits, and teamwork leads to shared success. Carter currently serves as team captain for FTC Team 23515, Hammerheads. In addition to leading the team, he wears many hats as a designer and builder, while also supporting coding and outreach projects. Carter’s FIRST journey began seven years ago in FIRST LEGO® League. He spent four years on teams in Illinois before later helping form two teams in Brock, Texas. In the fall of 2023, he was excited to help launch the Hammerheads and begin a new chapter in FIRST Tech Challenge.
One of Carter’s favorite FTC memories came after months of design, testing, and iteration. When the team finally assembled and ran their robot, seeing their carefully designed 3D printed parts perform better than earlier versions reminded him of the value of persistence and continuous improvement.Through FTC, Carter has developed both technical and non-technical skills that extend far beyond the robot. On the technical side, he has learned how to design parts specifically for 3D printing, taking into account strength, tolerances, and printer limitations. Just as importantly, he has grown as a communicator, learning how to clearly explain design ideas to teammates and professionals alike. Like many students in FIRST, Carter learned some of his most important lessons through mistakes. Before a league meet, he printed backup parts for the robot, only to realize later that he had printed the wrong version. When the original part broke at the event, the backups were unusable. The experience taught him the importance of slowing down, double and triple checking critical decisions, and inviting others to review ideas to catch potential issues early.
Carter believes one of the most overlooked and underrated aspects of FIRST is Coopertition®. While teams compete, they do so with respect, collaboration, and a shared goal of learning and helping one another succeed. That culture has shaped how he views teamwork and leadership. FIRST has also changed the way Carter thinks about school and his future. What once felt like a chore now feels like a tool, with robotics serving as a real-world application of what he learns in the classroom. The program has helped him envision a robotics-focused career path and strengthened his interest in mechanical engineering. The value Carter plans to carry with him for life is teamwork. While individual effort matters, he has learned that the strongest results come when people combine their strengths and work toward a shared goal. After high school, Carter plans to attend college for mechanical engineering. While his long-term career path is still evolving, one thing is clear, he is driven by a passion for building, creating, and solving problems.
To students who are unsure about joining FIRST, Carter keeps it simple: “Do it. There’s so much potential for growth for you as a person and as a team member, and you get to build a robot along the way!"
