And it's over

[DarkFlame145]

I just saw my team for the last time at our open house. It's bitter sweet because I'm moving to Sarasota, FL, but I'm going to be going to school in Orlando, FL. I'm sad about this. The team was a 2nd family to me I dont know why, I knew this was coming. Is anyone else going though this? Also if your a team for the Orlando area, please Email me at Darkflamegts@gmail.com. I really love FIRST and dont wanna lose it.

[DonRotolo]

You can always visit. You will certainly know where to find most of the team between early January and late February, right? And don't you have a winter break from college then? Of course, who in their right mind would travel from Sarasota to New York in January, but for FIRST, well, maybe....

Please focus on your studies the first year of college. You may have done well in High School but many kids find they were not well prepared for the intensity of college study. Get this part nailed flat and THEN get involved again. Don't let your second semester grades get negatively influenced by FIRST Robotics, that is exactly antithesis to what you need to be doing.

OK?

BTDT, Don

[Michelle Celio]

I just saw my team for the last time at our open house. It's bitter sweet because I'm moving to Sarasota, FL, but I'm going to be going to school in Orlando, FL. I'm sad about this. The team was a 2nd family to me I dont know why, I knew this was coming. Is anyone else going though this? Also if your a team for the Orlando area, please Email me at Darkflamegts@gmail.com. I really love FIRST and dont wanna lose it.
Where are you going to school in Orlando? I can give you some information if I knew which school you would be attending :)

Please focus on your studies the first year of college. You may have done well in High School but many kids find they were not well prepared for the intensity of college study. Get this part nailed flat and THEN get involved again. Don't let your second semester grades get negatively influenced by FIRST Robotics, that is exactly antithesis to what you need to be doing.

I second that. I let all warnings go to the wind and now I'm regretting my choice. (I'm not doing too bad I just could of done better)

[DarkFlame145]

I am going to UTI (Universal Tech Institute). It's a trade school for auto mechanics. I am going for a year strait then im done. I will have no homework, but in place i have to hold a part time job to pay rent.

[CarterM]

I'm going through a similar state of mood, FIRST is just awesome in every aspect, I can't get enough of it (As Fondy Fire knows...). The next week is probably the last time I'm going to see the team and FRC altogether...Your not alone. I might try and catch IRI though, even if we don't make it and are #4 on the waiting list. The harder thing on me though, is that besides for starting the team, being a junior in high school, and spending THOUSANDS of hours into FIRST and local mini robotics teams, is that I'm going to be moving to Suzhou, China, where there is no FIRST nor a machine shop to make anything! It's outrageous! At least you get to go to Florida where there are lots of FIRST teams... :P Although, living on the 18th floor on a skyscraper, with hundreds (*edit* THOUSANDS) of skyscrapers around you is pretty cool (espically with myself living in the country), I will hopefully reconnect with my FIRST spirit once again when I move back.

I demand a FRC team in Suzhou! :ahh: :ahh: :ahh:

[Kyle Love]

You may find this (http://usfirst.org/whatsgoingon.aspx) helpful to locate teams in the general area.

[Greg Peshek]

According to Google Maps, UTI is close to MCO (Orlando Airport) and the closest high school with a team is Oak Ridge High, 665, the team I'm on. We're a fairly small team, not powerhouse, but we do somewhat well.

Now the next closest is Dr. Phillips, although, someone else can help me out here, I believe they used to be 1694 but then combined with someone else? I'm not sure.

If you're looking for a powerhouse team, 1902's current workshop is downtown, although they're looking for a new spot now and Winter Park High is probably the furthest from the airport. It could be worth the drive though.

Another one somewhat far away is 945, Colonial High, which is further North than ORHS and DP, but more south than Winter Park.

If you want to do comparisons for yourself on Google Maps (sorry you're going to have to copy the links in to your browser):

Orlando High Schools:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=orlando+high+schools&ie=
UTF8&ll=28.574271,-81.412811&spn=0.350348,0.711365&z=11

Winter Park High School:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=winter+park+high+school
&sll=28.574271,-81.412811&sspn=0.350348,0.711365&ie=UTF8&ll=28.557988,-81.268616&spn=
0.350402,0.711365&z=11&iwloc=A

UTI: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Universal+Tech+Institute,+
orlando&ie=UTF8&ll=28.477745,-81.271362&spn=0.350669,0.711365&z=11

Hope this helps out.

-Greg P.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

I demand a FRC team in Suzhou! :ahh: :ahh: :ahh:

Start you own ;)

I'm sure there's plenty of people that will help.

[Jay Trzaskos]

I demand a FRC team in Suzhou! :ahh: :ahh: :ahh:

You could always start a VEX team!

The 2008/2009 VEX Robotics Competition season is officially open!!!

Team Registration is now open at RobotEvents.com (http://www.robotevents.com/program.php?event_id=1&sortid=8).

We’re very excited about the 2008/2009 VEX Robotics Competition season – there are already over 40 different events announced and listed! We know how important it is to teams and event organizers to see planned events listed as early as possible, so teams know what options are available in their areas as they plan for the upcoming season and school year.

Over 20 more event listings are being finalized and will be added in the next few weeks, including events in many different US states, countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Canada and numerous countries in Asia. Be sure to check back, as more local events will continually be listed at the above site each week between now and September.

Again, Team registration is open now! Event Registration for many of the listed events will begin next week – once teams have registered and received their official team number, they can go in to sign up for events.

Remember, the team registration fee is only $75 per team for the 2008/2009 season and all schools wishing to register multiple teams will get a $50 discount for all additional teams.

[lynca]

If you want to do comparisons for yourself on Google Maps (sorry you're going to have to copy the links in to your browser):

I'm hoping eventually there will be software tools that list all the teams on one site and no one has to dig through FIRST TIMS for information.

MentorSearch (http://mentorsearch.us/) is on its way to that goal by digging through TIMS so you don't have to , but we are not quite finished yet, so stay tuned...

[Alivia]

I definitely went through a similar situation this past year. It is always hard to lose an aspect of your life that was so much a part of who you are, and there are very few words that others can say that will make the transition easy.

However, there are some words of advice that will make the move less difficult. First of all, your team will ALWAYS be there with open arms, no matter how far away you roam. They are an email, phone call, plane, or car ride away. People from your team will always like to know what you are up to, and usually like when you keep in touch. One of my worries about moving on to college was that I would be virtually forgotten once I left. This was not the case. If anything, it made my bonds with my friends and mentors from the team that much stronger.

A second thing you need to keep in mind is about a new team. Should there be one by your college, you need to focus on your school work first--like others have said. After you have that down, you also need to realize that your new team is not your old team. They are two separate entities with two separate ways of doing things. At first, I made the mistake of comparing every thing my new team did with things my old team would do. You should try to steer clear from this, because when you compare the teams, you miss out on learning new ways of thinking--ways that definitely can benefit you as a person.

I know what you're going through, and wish you all the best as you make this hard transition where you must leave your team. But, look at it this way, as my signature says, "How lucky you are to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.":)

P.S. This site ( http://www.collegiatefirst.org/) might be able to help you find a team near your school. Good luck!

[Doug Leppard]

1902 would love to have you, but also we could point you to many other teams at various levels. One of our mentors is the FTC chairman for Florida.

So let us know and we can connect you. BTW 1902 still meets through out the year so you could come by and meet others.

One thing I do like about 1902 it is like a family being run by a family organized under 4H.

[DarkFlame145]

Thank you very much everyone, I have been PMed, IMed, and Emailed by many people. One of the things I love about FIRST is that everyone is willing to help out of they can. If my apartment is close to 1902 and I have the extra time needed I will help you guys mentor. But i need to get my job and school down first as many have told me to do. Again thank you very much everyone.

[Doug Leppard]

Great I agree about getting settled, do well in school then do FIRST.

BTW one of the mentors in hardware works for Carmax as a mechanic. I am sure you guys can connect well.