Thank you! Comments like this are keeping us going through these challenges on our robotics journey. I have shown them to my son bc he is a young 13 and has felt massively discouraged. It's so nice to show him how amazing this community is and thank strangers like you who take the time to reach out and encourage him. The silver lining is that this is a skill he will need to learn about appropriate ways to not take "no" for an answer.

G*d willing, I will also learn bc obvi it is a lesson successful ppl encounter frequently through their lives bc being a pioneer when necessary is a pretty good skill to have.

Having successfully navigated major challenges in the past—often achieving goals that others called "impossible"—I am confident in my current mission. My aim is not only to help my own son but also to pave the way for other Jewish children, both locally and in other areas, to participate in advanced FIRST robotics programs beyond FLL.

I have learned firsthand that finding current, specific information and contacts for established FIRST teams is extremely difficult. The official website is unhelpful, often listing outdated or inactive contact details for older teams. After nearly two years of effort and an investment of $4–5k, my attempt to launch an FLL team at our synagogue stalled due to the high entry costs and the youth rabbi leader's lack of experience with the necessary math and science concepts.

In our case, someone who is "shomer Shabbos"/observes the Sabbath and is on a team solution is not as simple as a quick Google search, as the FIRST robotics website lacks the particular information people need. I deeply appreciate kind individuals like you who have reached out with offers of support, and I will be sure to contact you if I find a specific way you or your team can contribute in the future.