Our Road to FIRST Tech Challenge

The School of Mechatronics and Robotics is a project of the Open for Business association, carried out in partnership with the Politehnica University of Bucharest, addressed to students in pre-university education.

For our team, however, this project meant more than just a simple learning opportunity. It represented the beginning of a “building” process. Our journey began, first and foremost, with the desire to learn and to build something together, step by step. 

On September 27, 2025, the first meeting of the project took place, a moment that played an essential role in defining our direction. This meeting was dedicated to getting to know each other and establishing a common ground among students, parents, and coordinators. The objectives of the program, the structure of activities, and the perspectives for development were discussed, but, more importantly than all of these, a framework of trust was created. After this meeting, we committed to a long-term process that requires involvement, consistency, and collaboration. Although we did not yet have experience or concrete results, this meeting laid the foundations of a team, and this would become one of the most important advantages of our team.

“In the process of educational and personal formation, the support of children and youth must be constant and achieved through joint efforts. Only in this way do the results become sustainable and bring emotion and pride, to both the children and the parents.” – Open for Business Association

A defining element of our journey was the organization and functioning of the laboratory, the place where theory was to be transformed into practice. Unlike a classic, stable environment, our activity took place in several locations, namely: Armășești, Politehnica Bucharest, and later Gârbovi.

This mobility represented a real challenge, because each change of location involved reorganizing, adapting, mobilizing, and resuming activities in a new environment. Nevertheless, the team did not lose its rhythm. We learned to work regardless of the conditions and to focus on the process, not the context. Over time, it became obvious that the laboratory is defined by the people who make it up. This stage demonstrated to us that progress does not depend on stability, but on consistency and involvement. 

Once the working framework was established, we entered a stage of constant activity, where weekly meetings became the foundation of our progress. These meetings aimed at organizing the team, as well as technical discussions, necessary to maintain the team’s coherence. 

During this period, we started effectively working with components, testing circuits, and understanding the mechanisms behind the functioning of a system. The process was not a simple or linear one. There were difficulties, errors, and moments of uncertainty, but each of these contributed to the accumulation of experience. Progress was not the result of a single moment, but of a constant effort, sustained over time. This stage was essential because it taught us that real development is built through discipline and continuity.

An important moment in expanding our perspective was participating, on December 21, 2025, in the workshop dedicated to entrepreneurship and sustainability, organized by Open for Business (O4B). This event represented an opportunity to step out of the strictly technical zone and understand the role of technology in a broader context. 

Workshops, roundtables, and applied discussions were organized, naturally combined with informal conversations, meant to facilitate the exchange of ideas and experiences. From Green Makers and sustainability as a common mission, to cultural and editorial entrepreneurship, each day brought different perspectives and genuine dialogue. 

We began to understand how to approach problems in professional ways and generally developed our experience. This change of perspective played an important role in the team’s maturation.

Participating, on February 7, 2026, in the South-East Regional held in Ploiești, marked a huge step for the team. For the first time, we came into direct contact with the FIRST Tech Challenge competitive environment. 

The experience was a complex one, offering us a clear perspective on the level at which the competition takes place. We observed professional teams, analyzed functional robots, and understood the complexity of organizing such an event. 

This experience transformed our objective from an improbable idea into a concrete target. We returned with increased motivation and a much clearer understanding of the steps necessary to get there. 

Over time, the team progressed little by little, began to function more efficiently, and responsibilities became better defined. 

We learned to collaborate, communicate, and manage tasks in a structured way, a result of the work we put in and the experience gained. 

Thus, we transitioned from a group of students to a cohesive team, capable of working together towards a common goal.

On April 9, 2026, participating in an activity organized in collaboration with Cisco Academy represented a new step in our development. It was a meeting full of energy and enthusiasm, where we discussed the Cisco Networking Academy program, the vast opportunities in the IT industry, and the path that young people like us can follow to build a successful career.

Interaction with specialists and exposure to real contexts helped us realize the relevance of our journey and see more clearly the directions in which we can develop. 

Participating in the FIRST Tech Challenge represents our main objective, but the value of this journey is not limited to the competition itself. The process we are going through contributes to our development on multiple levels, from technical skills to collaboration and organizational abilities. 

Through the activity carried out so far, we have built knowledge, but more importantly, a team and a working method based on consistency and involvement. Periodic meetings, sustained effort, and the accumulated experiences have helped us evolve at a steady pace.

Our road is a long one and full of hardships, but through hard work and cooperation, we can travel it as a true team.