Sanchay Koppa (10) entered the classroom, his eyes scanning as his young students busily worked on their LEGO projects, their laughter filling the room. But in the midst of the activity, he noticed one student sitting quietly, isolated from the group. Koppa, determined to help her feel included, began thinking of ways to break through her shell and encourage her participation in the group.

Later on in the session, Koppa led an icebreaker called “Animal Toss,” where he purposefully tossed her the stuffed animal and asked about an artwork she had been working on earlier. This small moment sparked her confidence, allowing her to open up and collaborate more with her peers.

Because of Koppa’s thoughtful mentoring, she was able to confidently participate in the FIRST Lego League (FLL) Expo presentation later on and showcase her confidence in her abilities. 

Watching her transformation brought Koppa a deep sense of fulfillment, reminding him of his own growth through the same program just a few years prior, where his love for robotics had blossomed. His interest in the hobby was sparked early in his youth.

“​​My older sister had done FLL Explore (robotics for kids ages 6-10) when she was younger and I remember going to meetings with her,” he said. “During those meetings, it was a lot of fun to watch them collaborate to complete the task at hand. When I heard of robotics at Mesa Verde hosted by their afterschool program, I decided that it would be an awesome opportunity to discuss with others and focus on my critical thinking skills.”

Initially, Koppa said he joined the Mesa Verde robotics team as an afterschool hobby. As he became more involved, however, he discovered a deeper interest in the mechanics behind robotics.

“That passion developed over time,” he said. “As time went on, it soon became something I was passionate about and started looking forward to.”

Years later, Koppa is now a part of the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team Option 16 at Westview and is given the opportunity to mentor within the very same program that inspired him.

“It’s a lot of responsibility to be a mentor for the Option 16 team [and teach] the curriculum of the FIRST Lego League program because of the impact that one has on the lives of the students,” he said. “Although it may seem insignificant at first, a good mentor can be the difference between [choosing] possible career options.”

Koppa implements a variety of teaching styles as a mentor in the program to keep the kids engaged and vary their learning strategies. He said his approach to teaching gives the kids a chance to learn from their mistakes and apply better techniques in the future.

“I approach teaching robotics almost the same way as it was taught to me,” he said. “Rather than giving the solutions to the kids, I guide them through the process of getting the solution. This way, they won’t have to depend on others in the future and will be capable of brainstorming and troubleshooting.”

Koppa said the most rewarding part has been witnessing the development of his students over time. He has watched their confidence in their abilities grow and their approach to collaboration gradually change.

“I remember on my first day of mentoring how shy some students were and how nervous others were,” he recalled. “As the year progressed, the shy students started to open up and the nervous students started to gain confidence. By the end of my freshman year, the students were able to converse with each other.”

Koppa said his goal as a mentor is to inspire the same fascination and enthusiasm for robotics and engineering that he developed as a student.

“Being a mentor has given me a different appreciation for STEM; it showed me how amazing teaching the next generation truly is and with the right guidance, these kids can make an impactful difference in this world,” he said.

Koppa also said it’s an honor to be able to inspire the youth and influence them to join something he is so passionate about. He is able to encourage kids to explore career fields early in their education and light a path for the next generation of robotics. 

“It means a lot to be able to inspire others the way that others have inspired me,” he said. “It truly feels good to give back to the community that gave a lot to me.”