To some, robotics may seem like an incomprehensible jumble of codes and wires that magically performs a task. However, Lexington High School’s all-girls robotics team, The Parity Bits, work to make approaching the field less daunting for girls. In addition to competing in qualifiers like First Tech Challenge (FTC), they also function as a club to learn robotics in a semi-structured manner.
“I get to use the controller, and it’s like video games, and it’s really fun,” Julia Soylemez, a senior and robot driver for The Parity Bits, said.
Running and maintaining a team of this scale is no easy feat, considering the costs of gathering spare parts for robot creation and adding character with custom 3D printed flourishes. Therefore, the Parity Bits run various fundraisers and classes that allow them to continue participating in events and competitions.
“Our keychain fundraiser is one such [fundraiser], but another one we do is we will teach a robotics course at the community center, and then teammates donate their salary,” Sophia Cochis, a senior and co-captain of The Parity Bits, said.
Every competition season, FTC reveals the season’s challenge for FTC teams to solve. The fundraising that the team had done earlier in the season allows them to come together and bring a robot to life, meeting the challenges they face during competitions head on.
“I think going to the qualifiers … [along with] scrimmages, … [is] kind of stressful, but also just really fun. Sometimes after them, we hang out as a team, be friends, ” Soylemez said.
This camaraderie between teammates during competitions is not due to pure chance. By design, FTC encourages effective collaboration .
“FTC actually explicitly wants teams to focus not only on the design and programming of their robot, but outreach and longevity [of the team]. You can see that in the awards that they give,” Cochis said.
The team recently had an alumni day, where former members passed down their skill sets and experiences to the newer generation of The Parity Bits, maintaining a female robotics space in a male dominated field.
“It is genuinely intimidating to be the only person who is like yourself in a room. But there’s tons of girls in robotics here. If you’re interested, please join. It’s really fun, and you’ll learn a lot of things … Our focus is just making sure that we keep getting girls interested in robotics … [to] see that there’s a place for them there,” Cochis said.
A central goal of The Parity Bits is to foster a safe space to learn about robotics, experiment, and try something new.
“If you’re on the fence, or you don’t feel like you’re good enough to join a robotics team, then just do it, because you’ll learn a lot along the way, and eventually you’ll become confident in yourself and your abilities,” Sophia Turzhitsky, a sophomore and co-captain of The Parity Bits, said.
Other club members also emphasize the importance of taking initiative, noting that any action matters, regardless of size.
“The number one piece of advice that I would give to anyone on any team is [to] be proactive, and if you’re interested, let people know that you’re interested. And don’t only take opportunities when they come to you, but look and make opportunities for yourself,” Cochis said.
