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In "The Cage," a robotics laboratory in Central Park East High School in East Harlem, students prepare their robot for the annual FIRST Robotics League competition. For the robotics team, the Warriors of East Harlem, this program teaches them the basics of construction and engineering, giving these kids an opportunity that they cannot find in the classroom.

“In East Harlem, I believe the number is about 10 or 11 percent of people over 25 have a college degree,” says Warriors of East Harlem Coach Gerardo Garcia. “I can guarantee you that out of that 11 percent, the number is significantly lower for people with college degrees in science and technology. So students of color are grossly under-represented in these fields. A program like this can really help level the playing field for them.”

Set up by inventor and scientist Dean Kamen, FIRST Robotics League is a mentor-based afterschool program where kids learn about robotics, a lot about themselves, and the spirit of international competition.

“All of them will be doing something that makes their own lives better and can make our lives better as a result of an opportunity to participate in FIRST,” says Kamen.

For the Warriors, this program teaches them more than just engineering; they say it provides them with essential life skills, as well.

“As a team, we get responsibility,” says Jordan Falcon. “We learn how to work together. We take these basic skills we learn in robotics, and take them to the real world.”

“What we do, we do it for each other; we look out for each other,” student Nick James says.

Times have not always been easy for the Warriors. This past September, one of the team's founders and mentors, Glenn Wright, was fatally stabbed in East Harlem, a victim of neighborhood violence.

“For them to have to deal with losing somebody so close to them that they kind of equated to the program, was very difficult to deal with,” says the team’s coach. “With that being said, they've kind of learned from the situation and are using it as inspiration and are dedicating the season to Glenn’s memory.”

The Warriors of East Harlem wear T-shirts adorned with the message, "Do the Wright Thing,” as a constant reminder.

“We’re doing this in honor of him. We all here together,” says student Liza Rodriguez. “We're still going even though we lost a member. We’re doing this for him. We just got to ‘Do the Wright Thing.’”

Over the next few weeks leading up to the regional competition in early March, the students will be spending most of their free time in "The Cage," building their robot.

“We here six days a week, four or five hours,” says student Janibao Jimenez. “I see them, more than I see my family.”

“I'm excited. It’s a rush. Like yes, we're going to competition, we have to do this; we're going to win,” adds Rodriguez. “I'm excited to see our hard work pay off.”

To learn about how to can support the Warriors, check out East Harlem Tutorial Program's website at ehtp.org. For more on FIRST, and other science opportunities in your area, check out USFirst.org.