Why YOU Should Join Rocketry
Photo from Matheus Bertelli via Pexels.
Hamilton has no shortage of STEM clubs. From Robotics to Science Club, there are many opportunities to pad your college resume and learn valuable skills. But what if I told you that there was a club so niche, so underground, so slept on, that you could join at this very moment? I introduce to you the Hamilton Rocketry Club. Led this year by the venerable Patrick Wang, this club has existed for more than 4 years. Of course, you wouldn’t know that, due to Rocketry not being mainstream. Nevertheless, I am writing to convince you to join this club. If reading this article hasn’t motivated you to rush to room S8 at 2:45 p.m. on a Friday like a toddler running after an ice cream truck, I failed.
Why Should You Even Join in the First Place?
The first reason is that no experience is required to join. If your team has very experienced members, they can carry you to a completed rocket. Whether or not you want to learn how to build the rockets is up to you, but it’s probably a good idea. You may find lots of enjoyment in watching something that you built getting launched hundreds, if not thousands, of feet into the air. Ivan Emerson, a senior at Hamilton who just joined Rocketry, stated, “So far, it seemed pretty beginner friendly because people are willing to help you and guide you through the first couple of weeks, and that was pretty neat”.
The second reason to join is because of the community. Unlike Robotics, there aren't any hard deadlines, so you and your team are free to work at your own pace, as long as the rocket gets done by the competition. This contributes to a laid back atmosphere at every meeting. You can work as much or as little as you want, so long as your team approves. In addition, most members integrate into their groups through working on and discussing their rocket.
The final reason to join Rocketry would be to pad your college applications. This is the most obvious reason. Joining a STEM club that challenges you to design, develop, construct, test, and compete in the field of rocket science stands out massively, and colleges love that. With how easy and fun Rocketry is, you won’t have to torture yourself to obtain another infinity stone for your college applications infinity gauntlet.
If these reasons aren’t enough, just know that there are cash prizes for the American Rocketry Challenge, where you try to get a rocket as close to specified flight parameters as possible. $20,000 goes to the team that places first at ARC. The rest of the prizes are in the tens of thousands of dollars all the way down to 10th place.
How to Join Rocketry Now!
At this moment, you should be sprinting to Room S8, but you might want to do a few things before you get there.
Before joining, sign up for the Rocketry Remind. The Remind code is @b669ha86. Once you sign up for the Remind, you have a few options for trying to join. One way to join is through the Rocketry website. The first thing that you will see is instructions on how to join. Follow those instructions and you’re in!
Another idea could be to try and swing by during one of our meetings, typically on Fridays at 2:45 p.m. In room S8, talk to Patrick Wang. Ask anyone who Patrick Wang is. Using the Remind may help you find one of our meetings. Once you talk to him, you’re pretty much in the club, so just show up to our meetings. However, if Patrick gives you additional instructions, follow them.
There You Have It!
The most niche, underground, slept on club in all of Hamilton. Joining up will mean designing and launching rockets with friends, competing nationally, and getting a shot at winning tens of thousands of dollars. Even if you are completely new, you can get up to speed real quick and with relatively little effort. Join, and make sure to bring your friends with you. Get ready to blast off!
