Currently, Jade McAllister is working with the rest of the Robotics team to construct a new robot. They are using substantial materials such as wood and polycarbonate, and hope to move on to printing soon. Despite the team facing many challenges, Jade, with a kind smile and a helping hand, ensures she communicates with her teammates to assist wherever she can.
As a freshman at DSST Montview High School, McAllister joined the Robotics team due to her unwavering interest in the computer side of things. She considers herself a very tech-savvy person due to her exceptional skills and expertise in technology. When she learned that the Robotics team had separate fields to work in, McAllister chose to be a part of the CAM (Computer and Machine) team. Here, she works alongside the rest of the team to construct robots and ensure they function properly.
“For my part with what I do in Robotics, other than just sitting at a computer or watching the machine, we actually have to be attentive. Make sure like, nothing comes [off] at the moment across the room, and then we also make sure like, nothing fails, that the pattern is going well,” said McAllister.
“I enjoy it. Not just the part of like, just looking at a machine, but also the people that I work with.”
In addition to her Robotics experience, McAllister’s experience as a new freshman has been fairly good compared to past experiences. She has been able to understand her class material better and feels an overall welcoming and comfortable atmosphere in her new school. Nevertheless, McAllister still experiences some academic challenges, despite striving to do well and flourishing in most of her classes. For instance, she struggles to understand some of the concepts of her Integrated Math I class but works hard to overcome this obstacle.
“She [Ms. Gomez] teaches well, but then, like, I can’t understand anything,” said McAllister, commenting on the difficulty of her Integrated Math I class.
“I’m thinking of going to tutoring when I can or like, emailing her [Ms. Gomez] to receive some help, if she doesn’t have tutoring, of course.”
In conclusion, McAllister’s experience as a freshman in high school so far has proven to be promising. She is committed to persevering and dedicating her time to achieve remarkable things with the rest of the Robotics team. She also hopes to join other extracurricular activities in the future, such as the girls’ basketball team and the Christian Club. Being aware of her strengths and weaknesses, McAllister knows where she can excel and what she needs to improve on as time goes on. Regardless, McAllister has no specific goals for her future high school experience other than to excel in her classes and focus on the present moment.
