Trojan Robotics changed my life and this is my team!
When I joined the American School of The Hague, I had no idea that one club would completely change my life. I was looking for a community while adjusting to a new school, so I explored the clubs ASH had to offer. Nothing worked until a friend invited me to robotics. After that first session, everything changed.
The club consisted of two FIRST Tech Challenge teams: Trojan Robotics and The Flying Dutchman. I joined Trojan Robotics and started on the Outreach team, managing social media and making videos. But what really affected me was watching my teammates, not just how intelligent they were, but how genuinely passionate they were about FIRST. Their passion was contagious, and I started attending sessions two or three times a week. Even so, I couldn't shake the feeling that I didn't truly belong among them.
That changed when I learned the team's history. Trojan Robotics formed in 2023 to accommodate an overflow of students who had signed up for the robotics club. At the start, the team had just three members with no experience in programming, 3D design, or outreach. Despite that, they placed 2nd at qualifiers and made it to regional championships in their very first season. Knowing this showed me just how dedicated these people really were.
I joined midway through the 2024-2025 season, which turned out to be a breakthrough year. The team won our qualifiers and placed third at the Benelux Championships — a massive leap forward — earning us a spot at the European Premier Championships in June 2025. We placed 31st out of 64 teams. For anyone else, that would have been a crushing defeat. For my teammates, it was fuel. They swore they'd make it to the World Championships the following year. That moment solidified both my respect for them and my sense of belonging.
Now it's 2026, and I'm Head of Outreach at Trojan Robotics. I've grown enormously alongside this team — in skills, in confidence, and in purpose. But this isn't really my story. It's a tribute to my teammates, who showed me that dedication can take you further than talent alone. They made me a better person, and I want everyone to know just how remarkable they are.
Sid Ramnathsing