Spotlight on Students is a feature that showcases WYWLA students 

and cool experiences they've had and/or recognitions received.

This month, we highlight 7th grader Aditi Mamilla!

How did you find out about this league, and why did you decide to join?

We first learned about this league through our friends. A few of us on the team had done it before, and most of us were immediately curious because it sounded like something new and exciting. We decided to join because we saw it as a chance not only to learn technical skills like coding and building principles, but also to grow in areas that are just as important - teamwork, problem-solving, and communication. We believe experiences like this help us prepare for the future by teaching us how to collaborate, think creatively, and overcome challenges together.

What do you do in this league?

In this league, we have competitions. There are regional, state, national, and international (world) competitions. There are also different categories each of which has a 25% point weightage like the Robot Game, where we code our robot to complete missions, Robot Design, presenting the robot the team built, Innovation Project, this year we had to find a problem faced by archeologists, come up with a solution and present it, and Core Values how we interact and work with our team and other teams. Teams can win awards in any of these categories. At regionals, we won the 1st place All Champions award and went to the state level competition. At each competition, we were able to learn so many things we wouldn’t have otherwise.

What is your favorite thing that you have done in this league?

Our favorite thing we have done in this league is just getting to know each other and having fun. The competitions were also a really great experience for us, as we got to go to places like Mooresville and Greensboro. Each thing that we did together allowed us to learn so much! We were able to meet so many new people and do so many things because of First LEGO League. It's really hard to choose a specific thing that was our favorite, because the whole experience was just amazing!

What challenges have you faced while in this league? How did you overcome it?  

The biggest challenge we faced in this league was making sure everyone felt included and had a role to play. At first, it was difficult because some team members were more experienced while others were just starting, and it was easy for people to feel left out. We overcame this by listening to each other, dividing tasks so everyone could contribute, and encouraging each person to share their ideas. Our coach helped us recognize that every voice matters, and once we started working together more openly, our team became stronger and more connected. Another challenge we faced in this league was learning how to truly listen to everyone on the team. At first, it was hard because we all had different ideas, and sometimes we talked over each other or didn’t give enough space for quieter voices. We overcame this by practicing patience, taking turns to share, and making sure every teammate had a chance to speak. Over time, we realized that listening carefully not only made everyone feel included, but also helped us come up with better solutions together.

How have you brought your skills from the league into the rest of your life?

First LEGO League helps us build a unique skill set as it is a program that pushes for both technical skills like building, coding, and crafting, along with social skills like effective communication, perseverance, and teamwork.We have learned so many skills from the first LEGO League, like coding, working effectively in groups, thinking on the spot, appreciating everyone's efforts, and persistence. We have gained a handful of skills. We currently use them in discussions, group projects, and when faced with adversities, and will definitely use them in the future. 

How do you balance school and your extracurricular?

At times, balancing school and this extracurricular can be very difficult as both are very important and time-consuming, especially the weeks leading up to competitions and scrimmages, as we have to put in extra effort and time. We feel that refraining from procrastinating and doing our work whenever we get a free moment allows us to complete our work both in school and in this extracurricular.

Who is one person who inspires you when you work?

One person who inspires us when we work is our coach. She motivates us to keep pushing forward, even when things get difficult, and she reminds us that teamwork and perseverance are just as important as technical skills. Our coach encourages us to think creatively, solve problems together, and believe in ourselves, which makes us want to work harder and do our best. She leads by example, showing how dedication and patience can turn challenges into achievements. Her guidance makes us feel confident that we can accomplish more than we thought possible.