Robotics can look intimidating: mechanical design, wiring electronics, programming. CAD, Java and more. Where does a beginner even start?

For our latest ARCS Youth feature, we’re turning the Journal over to Theo Balan, a high school student from the Seattle area who is sharing something he knows well: how to find your way into robotics.

We’re especially excited to feature a project created by a young member of our community that combines curiosity, technical knowledge, and the desire to make what he has learned accessible to others.

Through the series, Theo takes viewers behind the scenes of FTC: how robots are designed and built, what happens at competitions, and which skills are useful for someone just getting started. Along the way, he introduces everything from CAD and Java to the fundamentals of robot building, from the perspective of a student who has already been through that learning process himself.

And because we especially love seeing young people connect their interests with their Romanian heritage, FTC Explained is available with both English and Romanian subtitles.

Episode 1

In the first episode, Theo introduces FTC and begins answering a deceptively simple question: What does it actually take to get started in competitive robotics?

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EngineeringinMind
English captions:

Romanian captions:

This is only the beginning. More episodes of FTC Explained are coming to ARCS Journal as Theo continues exploring the world of robotics, one beginner-friendly step at a time.

About FTC Explained

FTC Explained is a beginner‑friendly mini-series created by Theo Balan, a high school student in the Seattle area with a strong interest in robotics and experience in both FTC and FRC. The series is designed for students interested in robotics, engineering, coding, and FIRST Tech Challenge. Episodes introduce how FTC works, how teams build their robots, and what competitions look like behind the scenes. Theo wants his peers to feel comfortable stepping into robotics and he highlights the beginner skills worth learning, from CAD and Java to simple robot building. The videos are available with English and Romanian subtitles.

Într-o zi frumoasă, Viorel se uita cum prietenii lui se jucau cu o minge. Mingea s-a spart și a început să se rostogolească spre el. Din greșeală, Viorel a căzut în ea. Când a încercat să iasă, și-a dat seama că țepii lui s-au prins în minge și nu o mai putea desprinde.

La început s-a speriat, dar prietenii lui au început să râdă și au descoperit că acum se puteau juca și cu Viorel fără să se înțepe. Au alergat, au râs și s-au distrat împreună, iar Viorel a fost fericit că, în sfârșit, putea participa la joacă fără ca țepii lui să îi înțepe.

Note: Illustrations created for ARCS Journal with AI-assisted tools.

Founded by Claudia Banu and Mariana Bodea approximately five years ago, Pizzeria La Rocca is a Romanian-owned pizzeria located in the Seattle metropolitan area. Acclaimed for their artisan pizzas and award-winning wines, the pizzeria transcends cultural boundaries, blending classic Italian cooking with rich Romanian heritage.

Pizza, in more ways than one, is like an original piece of artwork. They both take time to create, patience to perfect, and dedication to grow. But most importantly, much like a painting evokes emotion through color and design, a pizza can seamlessly translate the essence of taste into meaningful love and community. At Pizzeria La Rocca, a pizza is crafted the same way: like a work of art that brings people together. Around five years ago, passionate owners Mariana Bodea and Claudia Banu started Pizzeria La Rocca with a clear mission: to seamlessly blend their traditional Romanian hospitality and share their love for cooking and baking. “We are really proud that we were able to create a business and that people get to come to try our food and feel connected”, Mariana Bodea proudly shared. Combining Italian cooking with years of Romanian background, Pizzeria La Rocca offers a wide variety of handmade rustic pizzas, mouthwatering pastas, acclaimed wines, and much more.

To Bodea and Banu, Pizzeria La Rocca is more than just a pizzeria; it is a place where “forming relationships and [maintaining] connections” with customers and each other becomes the “biggest thing.” At the pizzeria, everyone is treated like family, where community and teamwork form a welcoming environment: “We are all like family: we laugh a lot, there is a good vibe in the kitchen, and in the restaurant as well”, Bodea suggested fondly.

Q: What inspired you to become the owner of Pizzeria La Rocca?

Bodea reflected on the time when the pizzeria was just a dream: “I was delighted to start something like the pizzeria,” she stated, “We always wanted to have a restaurant.”

Inspired by family and friends who owned restaurants in Romania, Bodea and Banu decided to open the Italian pizzeria in the Seattle Metropolitan area, where they could share their love for cooking and culture with loved ones and customers.

To Bodea, food’s ability to bring people together is one of the many things she loves most about what she does.

“I like that we have customers that come regularly and we know them and their kids on a personal level; we always learn more about who they are and what they enjoy doing. We greet them, and we share a lot between us.”

Those who enter Pizzeria La Rocca are never strangers, but friends, welcomed by the genuine hospitality of the owners and hardworking staff.

“We have the courage to say anything, and we always laugh a lot between all of us”, Bodea shared. At the pizzeria, laughter and conversations are shared daily, brought together by the spirit of teamwork and warm hospitality. Pizzeria La Rocca is not an ordinary pizzeria located on the corner of a street- it is a hidden gem that magically fosters a sense of family and cultural bonding over authentic Italian food.

Q: What were some of the challenges you faced in the beginning?

“The COVID-19 pandemic”, Bodea recalled with gravity. “It was hard during the first few weeks, primarily due to the outbreak.”

When Bodea reflected on the pizzeria’s greatest difficulties during the pandemic, lack of ingredients and staffing shortages were the biggest concerns: “Our flour was imported from Italy and [the pizzeria] had insufficient access. We also struggled to find people to staff on most days.” Overcoming the obstacles the pandemic threw in the pizzeria’s path, Pizzeria La Rocca has achieved phenomenal recognition since it was founded during the global COVID-19 outbreak. Given the pizzeria’s several milestones of success, such as winning gold recognition for Best Pizza and Best Italian Restaurant, as well as the People’s Choice Award in the Pacific Northwest by The Seattle Times, Bodea attributed some of this success to hard work and hospitality–two characteristics that she believes are shared among the Romanian people.

“I think that the most important thing about running our business is hospitality,” Bodea remarked. “I would say that we are very hospitable, very keen to welcome people, and I think this definitely comes from our Romanian background.”

Without hospitality and strong customer connections, Bodea believes that the pizzeria “wouldn’t have such a nice atmosphere, and it would be something that shows in the food.” The food Pizzeria La Rocca offers, after all, is what truly breaks cultural barriers.

“I am very involved with everything regarding Pizzeria La Rocca,” explained Bodea enthusiastically with a smile. With dreams to expand the pizzeria and continue sharing warm laughs and friendly relationships across the Pacific Northwest, Bodea and Banu emphasize the importance of teamwork, organization, and accountability as the core pillars of their work ethic: “Teamwork and accountability are very important, [but] organization is the biggest thing.”

Similar to how soil, water, and sun are essential components for a flower to grow, Bodea described each of the qualities as necessary to achieve success and lead a restaurant effectively.

“I think that being very organized in a business, especially as a restaurant, is very important,” the business owner shared. “You need to have control from the start and make sure that you are organized for the department that comes every six months to inspect the produce and quality of the restaurant.”

According to Bodea, successfully running a business requires much more than strategic planning and tidiness alone; it also needs building trust within the community of customers and staff, which is a priority of building an atmosphere like that of Pizzeria La Rocca’s.
“You need accountability; make sure that your products and appliances come in on time, and that you can come up with solutions as they arise.”

There are lots of tasks and responsibilities that come with being an entrepreneur. As a dedicated business owner, Bodea rarely gets to spend her time out of the kitchen: “I can get extremely busy.”

When not busy working at the pizzeria and scaling the business, Bodea enjoys spending most of her time with her family or pursuing outdoor hobbies.

Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of being a business owner of Pizzeria La Rocca?

Bodea stated fondly, “Hiking is one of my favorites. I really enjoy going outside and being with my family.”

She typically finds herself spending time with her two sons or cooking, something she says“inspired me to start Pizzeria La Rocca.”

Bodea also reflected on her family’s shared love of going to different restaurants and trying new things whenever they can.

Bodea remarked, “We frequently go to restaurants around the area and try new things”, commenting that their favorite thing is getting to “connect with new people and explore different areas.”

When asked what advice Bodea would share with the younger generation of aspiring entrepreneurs, Bodea’s words were expressed with confidence: “It’s a lot of work, but definitely worth it.” Reflecting on the differences of having a job versus being a business owner, Bodea shared that when showing up for a regular job, “it can be easy to just stick to work hours”, but that “when you are showing up for yourself, these hours vary greatly because you need to ensure that everything is going perfectly. And because you want everything to go perfectly, you end up loving the process as well.”

Mariana Bodea and Claudia Banu founded Pizzeria La Rocca with a shared mission to blend traditional Italian cooking with the Romanian hospitality they grew up with. Now, the pizzeria is a place where individuals can indulge in authentic cuisine, build lasting relationships, and create precious memories that last a lifetime.

About the Series

Romanian Entrepreneurs of the Pacific Northwest is an ARCS Journal series featuring Romanian-owned businesses in the Pacific Northwest. Through meaningful conversations with local entrepreneurs and business leaders, the series explores the unique stories behind their companies, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the experiences that have shaped their success.

About the Authors

Ariana and Catarina Pirvu are students attending Woodinville High School with a strong passion for business and their Romanian culture. The two created this series in hopes of learning from and sharing the special experiences of local Romanian entrepreneurs with the Romanian community.

Living Edge is an interior design and home staging company based in Bellevue, founded by Romanian entrepreneur and CEO Larisa Kocsis.

There is a common saying that goes, “a house is different from a home.” A house is a structure that provides shelter, privacy, and a place to reside. On the other hand, a home is a timeless sanctuary of comfort that fills the emptiness, brings people together, and complements their way of life. At first, the house is empty- nothing but polished wooden floors and freshly painted walls with windows. With staging, the house is transformed into a home. This job doesn’t just happen on its own- it is made possible by a team of talented designers and staging professionals who foster collaboration. “Collaboration will always be key,” says founder and CEO Larisa Kocsis. Living Edge was established to help homeowners and real estate agents transform properties into welcoming, market-ready homes by combining “intentional, impactful design” with smart staging strategies to create spaces that are personalized, beautiful, and functional.

With over 20 years of hard work, Kocsis describes founding Living Edge as pursuing “an industry that was a whole new career” from what she was used to. Kocsis had initially worked in architecture, where she gained valuable experience in staging and design, yet she found the job limiting and unfulfilling for her ambitions. Thus, Kocsis established Living Edge with a clear purpose: to “let go and start an inspiration” in which she would “get back to something creative.”

What do you enjoy most about being the business owner of Living Edge? Kocsis replied with a smile, “The creativity.”

On a typical day at Living Edge, that’s what leads most decisions: it is pivotal to finalizing furniture selections and staging the interior of houses. However, when working with her team or clients, Kocsis described loyalty as the foundation of her business.

“I would call that number one,” she explained, “You get to build some very strong relationships, and that is extremely valuable.”

For Kocsis, success is measured not only by beautiful interiors but by satisfied clients and lasting relationships.

“I cannot measure my success if it is not expressed in terms of my clients”

Together with the strong team ethic at Living Edge, this philosophy drives the company to deliver high-quality staging and design consulting.

How has your Romanian background influenced your career decisions?

Kocsis proudly stated, “Being a hard worker is something I can trace to my Romanian background.”

Rather than viewing challenges as setbacks, Kocsis also approaches them as opportunities and a chance to grow- a mindset that can be traced back to her Romanian roots. Kocsis also credits much of her motivation to her upbringing, expressing profound gratitude to her mother, who instilled in her the values of perseverance, resilience, and dedication from a young age. These principles continue to guide Kocsis throughout her career development, work ethic, and leadership style. Additionally, Romanian culture is something the Living Edge founder and CEO embraces in the work environment and lifestyle;

“Being part of the Romanian community opens up relationships for resources, but it also opens up the possibility of connecting with like-minded people who provide inspiration,” she explained with a smile.

Beyond professional networking, the Romanian community has provided friendships, inspiration, and a sense of belonging that continue to strengthen Living Edge’s collaborative culture.

Kocsis lives by a simple philosophy: “Be obsessed or be average.”

After exploring interior design and the staging industry, she discovered her passion for it and turned it into her reality.

“Without working hard and working my best, this wouldn’t be possible,” stated Kocsis. “I value my clients very much, and I want things to always end up good enough to meet or exceed their expectations.”

Kocsis’ passion for interior design extends far beyond an established career, leading the dedicated founder to spend much of her time transforming houses into homes. While the founder spends most of her time and energy improving Living Edge, Kocsis additionally enjoys “dancing, running, or spending a long summer on the lake with [her] family.”

Whether spending time with her family, staying active, or tackling a unique project with her team, Kocsis approaches each aspect of her life with the same dedication and enthusiasm that have contributed to her undeniable success.

“My vision for Living Edge is to be recognized as the #1 design-led staging company in the Greater Seattle Area,” Kocsis proudly stated when asked about her aspirations for Living Edge.

To Kocsis, Living Edge isn’t just a business: it’s an opportunity to create “a smarter way to stage.” In Kocsis’ words, the next steps Living Edge seeks to implement are to prove its motto through supporting feedback, reviews, and project metrics.

The Living Edge team combines strategic thinking with strong design expertise. As Kocsis explains, "things are very fast paced," and the industry requires continuous education in design principles and changing consumer preferences.

“It never gets boring,” Kocsis said with a smile. For Living Edge, this is only the beginning. She is determined to grow her interior design business into the leading design-led staging company in the region.

Deeply woven in Romanian culture, the common saying “nu lăsa pe mâine ce poți face azi” highlights the value of hard work and emphasizes pursuing initiative in the present.

What advice would you give to your younger self and young, aspiring entrepreneurs?

Kocsis’ advice was immediate: “Become comfortable with the discomfort.”

Growing up surrounded by resilient traditions and passionate culture, Kocsis learned to “do it scared,” embracing uncertainty and learning from setbacks. She believes that “taking risks becomes something that you get to enjoy and becomes very fulfilling,” ardently expressing that “it gives you confidence and gives you the ability to do things that you haven’t imagined.”

Living Edge began as the dream of a young Romanian girl who used her imagination to guide her creativity and her curiosity to build her initiative; today, it has become a reality that shapes Kocsis’ mindset and guides her very definition of “home.”

About the Series

Romanian Entrepreneurs of the Pacific Northwest is an ARCS Journal series featuring Romanian-owned businesses in the Pacific Northwest. Through meaningful conversations with local entrepreneurs and business leaders, the series explores the unique stories behind their companies, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the experiences that have shaped their success.

About the Authors

Ariana and Catarina Pirvu are students attending Woodinville High School with a strong passion for business and their Romanian culture. The two created this series in hopes of learning from and sharing the special experiences of local Romanian entrepreneurs with the Romanian community.