Third-grader Gets His Christmas Wish

Third-grader Thomas James got his Christmas wish this year: a letter of response from Robohand, a robot-manufacturing company in Monroe.

For some time now Thomas has been in love with robots. The eight-year-old found an old robot of his under his bed one day and thought that he could design a way to make it programmable, just like the ones that captivate him in movies.

 He did some thinking and drawings, and decided to send his plans, along with a letter, to the Monroe firm. Though he wanted nothing else for Christmas but to hear from Robohand, he did not hold his breath. When a letter from Robohand arrived in Thomas’ mailbox, addressed to him, the excitement was almost too much.

The letter, from Robohand’s National Sales Manager Daniel Peretz, thanked Thomas for his drawings and interest in robotics, and offered him a guided tour of Robohand’s facilities.

Both Thomas and his mother got their tour this past Wednesday.

Thomas’ interest in robotics stems from an affinity for science. “I like science and I do a lot of experiments at home,” he said this week. “I like going to Radio Shack to buy things to put together, things that you can add a battery or a motor to that makes it run.”

A student at Middle Gate school, Thomas confesses that his favorite subject in school is also science.

His collection of robots is slowly growing. He says that in the past he has attempted to build a robot and that he has a little robot that has the capability to pick things up. “I like little kinds of motors and gears,” he confided. Thomas is currently saving up money to buy RAD the Robot at Toys R Us, which costs in the neighborhood of $100.

It is not surprising that Thomas’ favorite movies all involve science fiction and robots. “Short Circuit,” “Lost in Space,” and “Iron Giant” all top his list of favorite feature films.

When he is not busy building and fixing things, Thomas plays basketball and baseball.

If Thomas has anything to do with it, he’ll never lose his fascination with inventing things. He says that some day he hopes to be a science teacher.