Xochitl Gomez is no stranger to flashy events, from movie premieres to award shows and the Teen Vogue Summit. This spring, the 17-year-old Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness star spent a few days immersed in a different kind of spectacle that was less red carpet and more robots: The 2023 FIRST Championship.
FIRST, which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, engages students ages 4 through 18 (as well as adult mentors, coaches, educators, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and other supporters) in a global robotics community through team-based robotics programs, both in and out of school. The mission of this not-for-profit organization is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators. FIRST Championship is the annual culmination of each season where hundreds of student robotics teams put their innovation, teamwork, and robotics skills to the test in front of thousands of cheering fans.
This type of event was a first for Xochitl. She’s made a name for herself not only as a successful actor, but also as a barrier-busting force in the entertainment industry. Last year, she became the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first Mexican-American teen to portray a hero, and her character was the franchise’s first queer Latina superhero. Gomez has previously stressed the importance of such intersectional representation and of portraying a teen whose power doesn’t get minimized among adults—values that reflect the FIRST mission perfectly.
And then there’s the fact that STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is actually intrinsically linked to the arts—so much so that many people have taken to using the acronym STEAM instead, underscoring how the creativity so often associated solely with arts can expand what’s possible within STEM, and vise versa.
Xochitl, who has been performing since she was five years old, certainly recognizes the connection. “So much of filmmaking uses advanced technology to accomplish the fun stuff you see in Marvel films, for instance,” she says. “During filming, we use drones, remote-controlled cameras, hydraulics, and motion capture suits—[and] these are just a few examples of how STEM directly links to careers in film and TV.”
So really, it made perfect sense for Xochitl to help announce the theme for the 2023-2024 FIRST season: FIRST IN SHOW presented by Qualcomm. This season, participants will discover how the STEM skills they’re learning through FIRST are applicable to a wide variety of career pathways, including those in the arts and entertainment industries. Brought to life by an outstanding community of adult supporters and volunteers, this season will inspire students to celebrate the ways in which theater, music, film, and design unite us in shared joy and wonder. Like FIRST, Qualcomm is devoted as much to equity in STEM as it is to innovation and creativity. The wireless technology company is a longtime supporter of FIRST and as a FIRST Strategic Partner, Qualcomm supports global programs as well as equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives, since hundreds of Qualcomm engineering employees volunteer their time to help FIRST students.
“As proud supporters of FIRST for over 15 years, Qualcomm and our employees are passionate about inspiring the next generation of innovators through STEM education,” said Angela Baker, VP, Corporate Responsibility and Chief Sustainability Officer, Qualcomm Incorporated. “At Qualcomm, we believe in the power of technology—it inspires, it transforms, and it has the potential to impact society for the better. We’re thrilled to partner with FIRST on the upcoming robotics season, which will empower young people to use their creativity, curiosity, and artistry, for good.
At the 2023 FIRST Championship, Xochitl had the opportunity to check out all aspects of the competition, get an up-close look at the students’ robots, and spend time with the teams. “I was really impressed with the kids and their projects. They had worked so hard and they were so excited to be there,” she says. “I loved being around that energy and enthusiasm. My favorite moments were talking with the kids as they showed me their projects and explained what they were developing and how it all went together. I could tell they were so proud to be there and that they had spent a lot of time working together as a team to get to the FIRST Championship event.”
Indeed, FIRST teams, hailing from over 100 countries, spent months preparing and then competing in regional events for a chance to participate in this culminating moment. Leading up to the final event, teams—with the support of adult mentors, volunteers, educators, and sponsors from Fortune 500 companies—research, fundraise, design, and build, all while keeping in mind the FIRST Core Values of discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork and fun.
And even though the theme is curated around a specific topic each season, the benefits of participating are largely universal—even (or perhaps especially) for those who think STEM isn’t for them. The FIRST mission is driven by the understanding that STEM is for everyone and that belief in one self is nothing short of life-changing. “I can tell you that I saw nearly as many girls as boys and that the kids were having so much fun,” Xochitl says. “They come from all over the world to work as teams and compete against their friends. It's like camp, but for robotics!”
A Pew Research Center analysis published in 2021 showed that women, as well as Black and Hispanic adults, are vastly underrepresented in STEM careers and many STEM college degree fields.
FIRST is working to break down stereotypes and misconceptions that typically influence children from a young age, reduce barriers to access in underserved communities, and increase representation in STEM among historically marginalized groups. Since 1989, more than 2.5 million students from more than 100 countries have participated in the programs, with inspiring results. According to a 96-month study conducted by Brandeis University, those involved in the program are two times more likely to go to school for STEM, and 81% of FIRST alumni declare majors in STEM by their fourth year of college (compared to 68% of their peers).
FIRST female students, specifically, show more than twice as much interest, knowledge, and activity in STEM than their counterparts. FIRST provides initiatives, grants, and resources for underserved, underrepresented, and vulnerable populations. For example, of the more than 10,000 students served by the FIRST 2021-2022 STEM Equity Community Innovation Grant, more than a quarter of them were English language learners and emergent bilinguals, 17% had a disability, and more than 9,000 lived outside of North America.
That said, FIRST isn’t all about numbers and data. It’s not even all about robotics. Programs happen in fun, collaborative environments where students not only learn tangible STEM skills, but also life lessons, from how to empathize with others to how to take risks and persevere. Xochitl saw that firsthand at this year’s FIRST Championship. “I really liked the vibe during the events,” she says. “Kids are competing, but they are also respectful and genuinely interested in a competitor’s project. I loved seeing the positivity teams showed each other.”
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Yes, trying something new can be intimidating at first—but the experience is worth the initial jitters. “It's normal to feel intimidated when starting something new. I know that feeling so well,” Xochitl says. “But what I can say about starting a new project, whether it’s robotics or a feature film, [is] you have to take risks and be willing to fail at first to learn something new. It can be scary, but in the end, it's worth it. Just stick with it, build confidence, and good things will come.”
FIRST offers students a safe space to fail and learn from the process. Participants gain the confidence—and community—to build their future and find pathways to success. It’s More Than Robots.
Watch an inspiring tour of what’s ahead for FIRST IN SHOW presented by Qualcomm and learn how you can get involved with FIRST.
