Did you make friends at a regional.. but dont know if you will ever see them again?

[Ashley Christine]

I know I met a few people who were so awesome! This was one of the best experiences for me... it was better than any cheerleading competition I have ever been in. I almost cried when our alliance lost its first of three matches. :(

One of my favorite parts was the social at rochester... it was so much fun... and now I dont know what I am going to do when the seniors on our team leave! I love them to death.

I met some people from all over.. delaware, canada.. and they were all so awesome!

I want to thank everyone for being so cool and friendly.. i really had a blast!

[Joe Matt]

Of course, I made tons of new friends at VCU, and I might not see them again. But I have AIM for a reason. ;)

In the end, you get more and more friends, that when you meet the old ones, you feel happy, not sad, about loosing them, it's the only way to move on.

[Koko Ed]

Of course you'll see them again.
That's what Chiefdelphi is for. ;)

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

Here is a good idea if you go to another regional.

Always have a phone with you. Not only can you call friends at the regional to figure out a place to meet, which is especially useful at Nationals, you can also save sns to your phone's "Task List" as text files really really quickly. I had to do that a lot last year, and it's a lot more convenient than pen and paper.

Trust me, a year from now, someone's gonna go up to you and tell you how awesome you are and how they've missed you :)

It's a good feeling.

- Genia

[Ashley Christine]

Of course you'll see them again.
That's what Chiefdelphi is for. ;)

yea... thank goodness its here! i dont know what i would do.. only thing is.. im new to this, so i dont know everyone yet.. but i am hoping i will find some people that i had met at regionals thru this.. that would be awesome!

[Koko Ed]

yea... thank goodness its here! i dont know what i would do.. only thing is.. im new to this, so i dont know everyone yet.. but i am hoping i will find some people that i had met at regionals thru this.. that would be awesome!
You and your teammates could volunteer at regionals as well and there are off season competitions.

[Alex Cormier]

It was a great time at all of the regionals I've been to. i have meet new people at each competition and it's awesome to talk to them afterwords here on chief delphi and meet people that you just have talked to them here.

[Ashley Christine]

You and your teammates could volunteer at regionals as well and there are off season competitions.

yea... id really like to do that this year... but i dont think my team is up for that.. and i really liked the competeing part... also, we dont have a lot of funds..

[Ashley Christine]

It was a great time at all of the regionals I've been to. i have meet new people at each competition and it's awesome to talk to them afterwords here on chief delphi and meet people that you just have talked to them here.

Hey, your from the Sparx.. did you see me in rochester? you are our sister team afterall as it is called. you guys have all been awesome!

[Alex Cormier]

Hey, your from the Sparx.. did you see me in rochester? you are our sister team afterall as it is called. you guys have all been awesome!
I don't know i was always in the pits but i believe so.

[Bharat Nain]

..And it sucks major when you forget to get their sn or #. But you know whats good? Make a lot of friends and one of those friends will have their sn or #. Making friends is always a good thing. I think my entire friends group is from robotics except the small one in school who get bugged majorly from robotics stories. Yeah sometimes you never see them again.. but thats life.. just keep in contact and hope to meet again.

[Mike]

Yeah I've made tons of friends, I've kept in touch with some of them... and some of them I'll be sure to meet again later on.

[omutton]

That's one of the awesome things about regionals......you meet so many AWESOME FIRST people, you have a lot of the same interests. Everyone can relate and everyone knows about FIRST. I've met some really awesome people at FIRST events, and it really does suck if you never see them again. If you have your cell phone on you, you can always jot down someone's e-mail or phone number so you can stay in touch. BTW, it seems like the Finger Lakes Regional is an awesome Regional, hopefully Team 1006 can bring Fast Eddie out there next year!

[Ashley Christine]

I am basically hoping that some of my friends are on here and have the same problem.. and then i will find them and get numbers/sns! lol

[Arefin Bari]

One thing that FIRST has given me ... Friends who care.

Trust me, you never want to lose them, they are always up for helping you with anything. I can point out several stories and several names but that will make this a BIG post. So I won't do that.

I am a senior on my team. Back in my freshman year I didn't know anyone. At this point I know more than 300 people in FIRST. This year's nationals is going to be a BLAST.

[Koko Ed]

yea... id really like to do that this year... but i dont think my team is up for that.. and i really liked the competeing part... also, we dont have a lot of funds..
That's where fundraising comes in. Don't be so quick to give up yet.

[omutton]

Man, ChiefDelphi Forums always pump me up so much for the competitions! The one thing that's good about the competitions is the team social because it gives you the opportunity to talk to others and meet new people without having the stress of competing.

[Alex Cormier]

Man, ChiefDelphi Forums always pump me up so much for the competitions! The one thing that's good about the competitions is the team social because it gives you the opportunity to talk to others and meet new people without having the stress of competing.
i always like nationals too because thats the biggest even of the kind and gives you the most time to chat with people from CD.

[Daniel Brim]

Personally, I don't have many FIRST friends.

I think I have some type of social anxiety, where I just freeze in unfamiliar public situations and have trouble communicating. One example was last year's webhug, where I got there all excited about meeting people, but I got there and just froze. I didn't really talk to anyone, except for Erin Rapacki (I'm sorry if this is misspelled) on the elevator back to the pits. I know people won't hurt me or anything (after all, this is FIRST), but I just have trouble talking to new people.

Anyways, I'll be at SoCal or championships if anyone wants to say Hi (I may or may not have trouble saying Hi back, it's usually easier if someone else starts the conversation).

Anyway, thanks for listening/reading/possibly skimming.

-Daniel

[omutton]

Nationals are awesome too because all the FIRST "Big Wigs" are there (Woodie, Dean, Dave) and all of the "Famous Teams" are there too! The Team Social last year at nats was a lot of fun and I got to meet some cool people. I hope we qualify for nationals this year, because if we don't I'm sure we'll be missing one hell of a FIRST party!!

[Ashley Christine]

canadians are amazing.. lol

[omutton]

canadians are amazing.. lol
LOL thanx........Is your team coming to the GTA or Waterloo Regional this year?
I wanna meet your team!!

[Joe Matt]

Personally, I don't have many FIRST friends.

I think I have some type of social anxiety, where I just freeze in unfamiliar public situations and have trouble communicating. One example was last year's webhug, where I got there all excited about meeting people, but I got there and just froze. I didn't really talk to anyone, except for Erin Rapacki (I'm sorry if this is misspelled) on the elevator back to the pits. I know people won't hurt me or anything (after all, this is FIRST), but I just have trouble talking to new people.

Anyways, I'll be at SoCal or championships if anyone wants to say Hi (I may or may not have trouble saying Hi back, it's usually easier if someone else starts the conversation).

Anyway, thanks for listening/reading/possibly skimming.

-Daniel
Well, no one would hurt you, expect Big Mike. I still hurt Mike, not on the outside, but the inside. ;)

Anyway, if you want, come on over to Sparky, I'll talk to you. :)

[Ashley Christine]

LOL thanx........Is your team coming to the GTA or Waterloo Regional this year?
I wanna meet your team!!

we didnt register for any other regionals because it was our first year :( i am very sad about that... id like to meet EVERYONE... if only we had known.. do you know if there is anywere else we can go still?

[Koko Ed]

we didnt register for any other regionals because it was our first year :( i am very sad about that... id like to meet EVERYONE... if only we had known.. do you know if there is anywere else we can go still?
There may be an exibition in the off season but that remains to be seen (there are an awful lot of teams in Rochester all of the sudden so a high school gym is no longer suitable) and as I had said before there are plenty of off season competitions to go to. Just bring it up to your team and see what they think.

[Alex Cormier]

There may be an exibition in the off season but that remains to be seen (there are an awful lot of teams in Rochester all of the sudden so a high school gym is no longer suitable) and as I had said before there are plenty of off season competitions to go to. Just bring it up to your team and see what they think.
KOKO! we were just thinking of this. i know that our school's gym/field house is big enough to hold a big mini comp. we can have the field in the GYM and have the pits in the fields house due to no bleachers in the field house. does it not sound like a great idea? if possible it will be a great thing to end a great 3 year reign for the seniors on my team and my self.

[Ashley Christine]

There may be an exibition in the off season but that remains to be seen (there are an awful lot of teams in Rochester all of the sudden so a high school gym is no longer suitable) and as I had said before there are plenty of off season competitions to go to. Just bring it up to your team and see what they think.

This is something i have already been thinking about. It would be hard to organize, but i have someone from another team who says they would help me.. i just have to make sure my team doesnt think I am crazy. I dont know of any off season comps that are schedualed yet.. if you find some nearby.. let me know! thanks. :D

[Koko Ed]

KOKO! we were just thinking of this. i know that our school's gym/field house is big enough to hold a big mini comp. we can have the field in the GYM and have the pits in the fields house due to no bleachers in the field house. does it not sound like a great idea? if possible it will be a great thing to end a great 3 year reign for the seniors on my team and my self.
We'd better get the Rochester FIRST people on board first. They may have other plans so it's best to make sure.

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

LOL thanx........Is your team coming to the GTA or Waterloo Regional this year?
I wanna meet your team!!

Canadians are truly amazing. Example, I think I recognize omutton from GLR 2004. And that's how you find people from regionals. They pop up randomly.

[Koko Ed]

This is something i have already been thinking about. It would be hard to organize, but i have someone from another team who says they would help me.. i just have to make sure my team doesnt think I am crazy. I dont know of any off season comps that are schedualed yet.. if you find some nearby.. let me know! thanks. :D
Well I know they did one in Canada's Wonderland last year (and with the Fast Ferry back up and running pretty easy to get to) but I think Karthik would know if they're still doing it.

[omutton]

Canadians are truly amazing. Example, I think I recognize omutton from GLR 2004. And that's how you find people from regionals. They pop up randomly.

Wow! Too bad you're not coming to GTA this year! I guess I'll see you at in Atlanta (if we qualify) LOL

[Koko Ed]

This is something i have already been thinking about. It would be hard to organize, but i have someone from another team who says they would help me.. i just have to make sure my team doesnt think I am crazy. I dont know of any off season comps that are schedualed yet.. if you find some nearby.. let me know! thanks. :D
MAK hosted one a couple of years ago at Theater on the Ridge (only five teams were there) and Edison hosted 8 teams last year. We could have as many as 18 if we invite Liverpool, Lockport and Newfane ( not to mention other upstate teams like Division by zero and Code Red). This is rapidly growing into an actual off season competition which is great.

[-matt-]

I have made lots of friends at robotics, and I still keep in touch with some of them over the internet. I think that keeping contact with people that you meet at robotics is important, because there are people from all over, and it really brodens your horizons.

[omutton]

I'm not sure if the event at Canada's Wonderland is still planned for this year, but that isn't that far of a drive from Rochester.

[Ashley Christine]

Okay. I know this is a little bit off topic and this might be kinda long, but there are some things I wanted to say.

I joined FIRST Robotics in my school this year not knowing what i was getting into. I did it because I was forced out of Indoor track because I fractured my back pole-vaulting. I love to be involved in things so I joined about 1 or 2 weeks into it. It was fun... and it really changed me in a good way.

Going into competition I had no idea what to expect. Being a rookie team and all. I feel that we fit in very well, T-shirts, signs, cheers, a robot that seeded 5th. It made me feel so good. And all the people were so friendly, it was so amazing, everyone was there for eachother and helped eachother.. it was like one of the greatest things to take part in.

I especially loved the team social. It was deffinately a bonding time between me and members of my own team... it was amazing, and now its gunna be so hard letting the seniors go! I have learned so much from FIRST and I am very said that we are not signed up fro regionals or nationals.

-Ashley

[Koko Ed]

Okay. I know this is a little bit off topic and this might be kinda long, but there are some things I wanted to say.

I joined FIRST Robotics in my school this year not knowing what i was getting into. I did it because I was forced out of Indoor track because I fractured my back pole-vaulting. I love to be involved in things so I joined about 1 or 2 weeks into it. It was fun... and it really changed me in a good way.

Going into competition I had no idea what to expect. Being a rookie team and all. I feel that we fit in very well, T-shirts, signs, cheers, a robot that seeded 5th. It made me feel so good. And all the people were so friendly, it was so amazing, everyone was there for eachother and helped eachother.. it was like one of the greatest things to take part in.

I especially loved the team social. It was deffinately a bonding time between me and members of my own team... it was amazing, and now its gunna be so hard letting the seniors go! I have learned so much from FIRST and I am very said that we are not signed up fro regionals or nationals.

-Ashley
Well you know what you want to do for compettiions next season. Have your team start planning for it now.

[omutton]

While we're off topic, LOL.........That was like my rookie year. I didn't know what FIRST Robotics was and when i was in Grade 9, it was our school's first year having a team. I didn't join or anything because I didn't even know about it. I was actually asked to join by a friend and from the first meeting I went to, I was hooked. The first competition was awesome! We had a 7th seede robot, we had spirit, and at the end of that year we had 2 Rookie All Stars and 2 Imagery Awards. We qualified for Houston but our school board wouldn't let us go! :(......Your rookie year is awesome and you are no longer a rookie after that first competition. FIRST is hard to describe to the general public but everyone involved shares the same bond, they all know about gracious professionalism and the awesome message of FIRST. Two people who became close as a result of our team recently got engaged! That shows how FIRST can really bring people together!

[cortlyn]

ashley! i just read all of these posts, and with our hard work and i know we both have a lot of determination, we can get some awesome off season events planned for teams around us. with the idea of webster's field house and gym, and the suggestion to contact the FIRST board in rochester, we can pull something amazing off, i can feel it at the end of my finger tips!
ashley and i were talking today in school, and i got goosebumps all over, just thinking back to everything i have gained from teachers, mentors, students, and myself. i am truely grateful for volunteering myself and others to the wonderful experience. being a rookie team is undescribable, ecspecially when you are seeded fifth!
i want to thank all of the teams and volunteers at the FLR for putting so much effort into a 3 day event, which i will remember forever.

[Daniel Brim]

Well, no one would hurt you, expect Big Mike. I still hurt Mike, not on the outside, but the inside. ;)

Anyway, if you want, come on over to Sparky, I'll talk to you. :)
Hah, yeah. Especially since I weigh 110 pounds (I have been very sick in the last year and lost 35 pounds between ship date and championships) and I'm very skinny. He'd probably crush me. Hopefully I'm not well enough known to be bearhugged :) .

Thanks for being nice :) ,
Daniel

[Karthik]

Well I know they did one in Canada's Wonderland last year (and with the Fast Ferry back up and running pretty easy to get to) but I think Karthik would know if they're still doing it.
Yes, there will be a Canada's Wonderland Off-Season event this year!!! Expect an official announcement shortly. After difficulties many teams expressed concern with a June date conflicting with graduation ceremonies, this year's event is tentatively scheduled for September 24, 2005. We'd love to see the event grow, and hope that many of our friendly American neighbours will make the trip up north.

Again, there will an official announcement soon.

[Ashley Christine]

Yes, there will be a Canada's Wonderland Off-Season event this year!!! Expect an official announcement shortly. After difficulties many teams expressed concern with a June date conflicting with graduation ceremonies, this year's event is tentatively scheduled for September 24, 2005. We'd love to see the event grow, and hope that many of our friendly American neighbours will make the trip up north.

Again, there will an official announcement soon.


That would be very cool! i would love to come up to canada if i could get my team to go. At Rochester i met some people from the Spartonics i think and another tean. Canadians were great and so spiritful!

[Chris Sturrock]

That would be very cool! i would love to come up to canada if i could get my team to go. At Rochester i met some people from the Spartonics i think and another tean. Canadians were great and so spiritful!

Yes I'm amazing aren't I? lol.

Stu and I had a blast with you in Rochester, You said you might be coming to Toronto? Can't wait, (see you will see your friends again, maybe)

Hopefully you can make it out to the Canada's Wonderland thing as well!

[activemx]

I know I met a few people who were so awesome! This was one of the best experiences for me... it was better than any cheerleading competition I have ever been in. I almost cried when our alliance lost its first of three matches. :(


Its always a good thinkg when cheerleaders join a robotics team.

[Sam Lipscomb]

i met so many people at just one regional, it wasn't funny. and i have a whole list of people i still have to meet at nationals!
i can't wait. ;)

i -try- to give out my screenname to people, but i think at one point i was in a hurry and forgot to specify that the 0 in my s/n is, in fact, a zero. so now my friend from aces high hasn't imed, probably because he has the wrong s/n! :(

saturday i'm going to the new jersey regional with some friends from the cyberknights, so hopefully i'll meet more people there. only a month until atlanta!

[Laura 1547]

Wow...I can't believe we're actually going to Atlanta...I'm so sad that spartonics and shadowclaw arent going though (that's what I heard anyways). I think alot of people on our team made friends with both those teams...anyways I know a couple of people who are on some teams that are going so hopefully I'll see them there...if not maybe next year?

[Sakura141]

I made a whole bunch of friends of 229, 1227, 48, 67, and 66. I see the ones from 1227, 67, and 66 the most though... 48 I don't meet a lot... and I rarely see my friends on 229...

AIM and MSN are good for something...

[Dorienne]

Indeed, I met some from Team 84, and saw them about twice after I met them. I haven't seen them since '03. I talk to some on AIM and whatnot, but it's still quite sad for me. They were my first friends in FIRST. xD That sounds kinda' funny. But seriously, I do hope they can somehow come visit me. I can't drive, and if I could, Mom wouldn't let me go to PA. xD Heck no.

There's so many other people I met too, from teams 1123, 116, 25, 768, 1089, 303, 1464, 686, 222, 517, and a bunch from Chief Delphi. There are many more teams, but my brain's mush at the moment.

Keeping in contact is really important. I lost contact with one guy, and I really feel awful about that. He was a good friend to me, and one of the first friends I made in robotics. So, yeah, big tip: keep in contact with all you meet. Don't lose anyone! =)

[Laura 1547]

some shadow claw people came to the GTA regional which was cool but it would have been even better if the whole team was there...me and my friend started the shadow claw chant if that counts for something :P

[Jeff Beckett]

i had made a couple of friends at GTA and Waterloo. but been the driver and all makes it hard to meet new friends seeing how ur always driving. ashley i met you at GTA i beleive. i can't wait for Atlanta. l8er

[Kyle Love]

It seems I always make some friends at regionals but never get their CD name or AIM. So, I figured I might as well meet every person in FIRST. If I haven't met you yet, don't be afraid to say hi.

What I have found weird though, is how I can talk to people at comps (like Elise aka Dubiouselise) and not even know it's her. Now shes like one of my buds! This has happened with more then just her, too many to name actually. Remember all, don't be afraid to say hi!

[dubious elise]

What I have found weird though, is how I can talk to people at comps (like Elise aka Dubiouselise) and not even know it's her. Now shes like one of my buds! This has happened with more then just her, too many to name actually. Remember all, don't be afraid to say hi!

Yes, do speak up, especially if you have a CD name that is slightly different from your real name. Like Kyle said, it took both of us forever to figure out that we had actually been talking to each other online for almost a year before we met! Don't be afraid to ask people for their names, if you have a hard time remembering and you don't mind having writing on your shirt, carry a sharpie with you at all times and have people write their name/screenname on your shirt. Then you have no excuse ;)

[Ashley Christine]

Thats a cute idea!! haha.

Anyways... I am happy to say that I did get to see some of my friends again. :) So I was very happy about that. And I am in touch with a lot of people to now. [Its a good thing there is chiefdelphi... and that I usually remember to give my AIM/Email] hehe.

I hope to see some of you guys around, whether I go to nats or it be next year.

-Ashley

[Chris Sturrock]

your going to nats if I have to make a pit stop along the way. and I'm sure stu will help me... lol

anyway, I made a few friends at the last regional. mostly from rolling thunder (1511)... :D

I can't wait for nats, Its gonna be a dream come true competing in atlanta on our rookie year. I can't wait to see our robot on that field, showing off all its gloryful gloryness! (making up words is fun)

Look for me, I'll be the one driving the robot...

[Ashley Christine]

I would love for you to drag me along.. only I dont have the money/place to stay etc lol... ill just hide in your luggage! hahaha.

[If there is a way for me to go.. somebody please tell me! lol]

[tiffany34990]

you can always do a card and have your info on it (i know a few people w/ business cards like that)

all well. it's fun meeting people and gaining more friends. can't say i know everyone on cd or in FIRST but that's okay.

championship always seems like a huge reunion just find each other and yeah have tons of fun

[The Lucas]

Sometimes you can make a friend at a regional and not even realize it until you see them again later.

At Philly in 2003, I was walking through the pits when a bearded college student in a Segway T-shirt recognizes me and starts talking to me. I recognized him after he said that I helped his team with programming at VCU in 2002. We talked for a bit. He said he was going to RIT now and mentoring team #73. As all you FIRST-a-Holics out there could probably guess, the bearded guy from RIT is Greg Needel.

I’ve seen Greg at the Championship every year since then, although he hasn’t come back to Philly since then (that I know of).

One great thing about the Championship is: The list of FIRST friends you want to see there grows every year.

[BandChick]

One great thing about the Championship is: The list of FIRST friends you want to see there grows every year.
That, and the number of people you're stalking XD

[Ashley Christine]

Greg is Awesome! hehe

[hangloose]

I got to meet so many people at the Lone Star Regionals and I'm so glad I asked for their email addresses! I made the best of friends with people from Brazil (Team 1621) and I talk to them everyday! They're so awesome!

[Mike Ciance]

i've met a lot of great people at competitions. Dorienne Plait started talking to me at the 04 nj regional and we became best friends. at the annapolis regional a couple weeks later i met Cat from 686. at nj this year i met steve the jester, and from 303 i met Yostina, Emily, Anna, and others. I talk to all of them a lot, and Yostina's taking me to her prom :D . at the palmetto regional last week i met a bunch of nice people from Monster Mechaniks during the animation judging, though i got no names or contact info. From 1051 i met Heather, Cameron, and Bren. Turns out Cameron and Bren were the drivers, and they ended up beating us in the finals :eek: . I and most of my team also met Annie from 312. this is not to mention CDers i have met, like Eugenia Gabrielov and BurningQuestion, and people i have met at random events like Aroon from 1403.

if i forgot anybody i'm sorry, it's late :o .

i'm hoping to meet a ton of other people at nationals, with it being my last official FIRST event before college. if anybody wants to meet me i'll be wearing a purple hawaiian shirt and a mariachi hat :)

[the_short1]

i met some REALLY greatt ppl.. and it ends up that most of those ppl are on teams that are going to atlanta :D. . . also.. a couple Tennessee girls from team 547 are going to atlanta just to cheer for us :D

FIRST is all about 'Network' .. metting ppl from ALL OVER THE WORLD .. and interacting with them.. its AWSOME :D and a lot of fun !

[BandChick]

FIRST is all about 'Network' .. metting ppl from ALL OVER THE WORLD .. and interacting with them.. its AWSOME :D and a lot of fun !
That's why I love Nats and IRI the most. It's the biggest central connection for a lot of my friends. I can't wait to see everyone. The best part about FIRST is having 800 friends that you can see at one event. :)

[False Illusion]

Yes, I agree with what people have said. You can meet some really great people, and that's why I love it. I met some people and made some new friends too..and some are from Hawaii!

[QT_Angel]

Philly was my first regional I have ever been to, and i have to agree with you that it was better than cheerleading competitions, well better than the ones I've been to anyway. I've met tons of people at the Philly's regional, I'm actually going out with one of the guys I've met. I loved it at the social, you meet so many people who have something in common with you. It was awesome, so thank you to everyone who went to Philly's regional for making it a memory to cherish!

[Jill1022]

Yeah, last year at Buckeye my friend and I met this very sweet guy named Pat from team MAC. Just being around him felt like being around a brother. I haven't seen him since.

[Sakura141]

I can't wait to meet most of my friends that I made last year in FIRST, and I can't wait to make even more NEW friends! FIRST to me is making new friends, having fun, and learning. :D

[Trendy228]

The thing with the regionals our team goes to is that since New England is such a small state area not only do i get to make friends but i still hang out with most off them off season and in season! it's AWESOME! :D


Team 228 "GUS"