November 6, 2018
By Anelga Hajjar and Rachel Zhang
Of the many clubs and teams Lexington High School has to offer, the Parity Bits robotics team is one that plays a major role in many students’ lives. Established in 2014, Parity Bits is the school’s first and only all-female robotics team. The team is currently in its fifth season.
For Khushi Soni, a senior and one of the captains of the team, the LHS Parity Bits robotics team has been an integral part of her high school experience.
“In a way, it has defined my experience at school. I’ve met some of my closest friends through this team, and made some of the best -- and most embarrassing—memories,” Soni said.
The robotics team has helped its members feel welcomed and accepted through its encouraging environment. This has created a close-knit, trusting community.
“[Our] friendship also extends beyond the club, so we are not just a team on the field, but we are a team 24/7,” Anushka Pachaury, a junior and member of the team, said.
Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields still see a huge gender gap, and the drop-off in girls’ participation tends to start in middle and high school. LHS is in no way immune to that culture of misogyny and exclusion, but the Parity Bits is making strides forward.
“In an all girls team, we have each other’s back and it allows us to express our true self without anything limiting our intellectual capabilities,” Pachaury said.
Robotics necessitates persistence. Soni describes this as one of the many lessons she has learned as a result of her experience.
“Robotics includes a lot of trial and error, because not all designs work, and programming is basically just trying again and again till you finally get it, so I know how to handle failure,” Soni said.
The robotics team provides students with a fun and creative opportunity to pursue their interests in STEM while enhancing their programming and building skills. Students who join come with a wide range of experience: in fact, students with little to no STEM experience can still make significant contributions to the team.
“Anyone who is not necessarily interested in STEM can still have a major impact on our team, whether it be with the notebook -- how we document our year’s progress -- or by being a photographer, or running our social media. There is something for everyone,” Soni said.
The Parity Bits meet around four times a week, with each meeting going until 5 p.m., sometimes even later.
“We work really hard, but at the same time we have a lot of fun,” Pachaury said.
The academic skills robotics team members garner spill into class, particularly in STEM courses such as AP Computer Science. For Soni and Pachaury, the robotics team has opened doors to technology workshops and hackathons.
The team is currently preparing for their annual competition, the F.I.R.S.T. Tech Challenge qualifier.
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