Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

I too have ended my three years of driving. My last match was a horrible one in the quarterfinals in which we lost, we were supposed to play the next one too but our "partners" wouldn't let us. They flipped, and our alliance lost. Not exactly how I wanted to end it. At least I was able to do some kick@$$ driving that made us finalists in Phoenix. I just wished LA could have ended just as well. Today I picked up and skimmed through an RC car magazine, something I haven't done for years. I guess I'll just have to get back into that, or something. Reading this thread made me even more sad. I don't really know what to do. I can accept the fact (although it's hard) that I can never drive anymore but I can't accept the fact that I'll be watching from the stands instead of from behind the glass. Our field coach is graduating too and going far away so maybe I can take his place.

Anyway, I've gone to designing a transmission for next year so at least some of me will be with the robot. If I can spend enough time, I'll build it. If not, I'll give the kids a full set of plans. The good part about this is that I can make some parts of the design go into "uncharted waters" so a lot of drive testing will be needed by the designer before anyone else can drive. :D

Anyway, I'm really bummed so is anyone up for building something even better to drive? My summer looks free.

Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

I feels weird after getting back home, that this will be me last year officially with team 86. Luckily I'll make sure to join team 401 at Virginia Tech, and I'll always be ready to help out my old team.

Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

Sad day for Seniors - but the great part is that there is someone waiting in the wings to fill the void you are creating when you leave.

Many of you have made awesome contributions to your teams (Jason, Adrienne and Collin, to name the three from Cyber Blue), but now it is time to make room for the others to take the leadership roles.

Good luck to all graduating Seniors - you are undoubtedly better people from your participation in FIRST.

Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

To all you FIRST seniors who are graduating:

Welcome to your freshman year of Mentorship!

My senior year of HS was my team's first year, and I didn't even realize at the end of our regional that I was no longer a team member. Being a mentor hasn't changed my role much in the team. I haven't been around much because I go to school 150 miles away from my team but when I come down I help out in whatever way I can, and cheering/doing recon for the team at events is just as fun as driving to me and a whole lot less stressful than pitwork. Being a mentor is a lot of fun. Enjoy!

Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

It is a tough day for seniors, I know how it feels and I tell you that it sucks. FIRST was the best part of High School, but im liking the whole transition from student to mentor. Its a new challenge...more responsibility, more leadership, and higher expectations. Now that HS is over, your FIRST career is just getting started (as some have said)

So im going to leave you with a rough quote (that im guessing how this went, but you should get the point of this) on starting a new team (if this applies to you) from my friend, Amanda Morrison (amanda dont butcher me for getting this wrong).

"Starting a new team is a huge responsibility and it takes a lot of time, even though Dean wants you to do it, don't sacrifice your education to start a team if you aren't up to it."

...or something close to that....but you get the point


I tell you that college is a busy place...I wish all graduating seniors best of luck in the future and I hope to see all of you participating in FIRST for years to come.

D.J.

Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

I share my feelings with all of you. It is very hard to go from FIRST status student to FIRST status Mentor. Your so used to driving or shooting pt. balls and now you become the one to teach the driving and shooting pt. balls / bins for that matter. ---- I should know i'm still going through it all. and i've not been on a team since 2002. and been an alumni since then.

I was only apart of a FIRST team for about a year in a half and I played many roles for that team ( Captain, Back-Up Arm Pilot, Sponsorship Leader, Assistant Spokesperson, Assistant Mechanic and possibly one or two more roles ).

I realized I was going to be graduating when the coaches reminded me in may 2002 at PARC that I would have to select a new captain to take on my responsiblities. And theirs nothing harder then to select a successor to fill in and improve what you have done.

The good side to all of this is you can still be a Mentor of that team, you can Mentor other teams and spread what you have learned sorta like " Passing the camcorder around so that the next Chairmans Award Winner is selected ", your team will always welcome your presence anywhere they may be, they consider you the school and team alumni (which is automatically) and you could be considered their best MVP Player.

*starts rant here :\ )
Thats why it so imperitive that kids join during their freshman year that way they can have a full 4yrs of FIRST and not be barred by classroom achievements (e.g. must sustain a 75% grade average to remain on the team). Some schools choose to make this a curiculum others choose it to be an after school activity. This is a Organization that the only requirement needed to be met should be the talent that you contain and can share with fellow members and not have to worry about a grade average. Having a grade average can either strive students to work harder or scare them away knowing they can't sustain it.
*end rant here :\ )

For the FIRST Graduating class of 2004 - Congradulations in not only making your team the best to participate on, but by also proving to your teachers that though you may not do your HW in class you still manage to make time to do Deans HW. :-) (This may not make sense but oh well :) )

Who knows - maybe all of the alumnis and their corresponding schools will adopt a rookie and at least complete Deans easier assignment hehe!

Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

I understand all of you being sad. You feel team pride and pride in your fellow students. Some of you have mentored Lego League Teams and know what it's like to feel pride in what the people your mentoring create. I've not yet mentored a Lego team, however being a mentor of team 949 for the last two years, has been some of my proudest time I've spent.

I've been on quite a few teams in my profesional life and I'm very proud at some of the things those team have accomplished. However there is something I can't quite put my finger on in being a FIRST mentor.

The teams your about to be a part of, both professionaly as well as a college student, will do amazing things that help people. At least that is the hope of me for my students and the hope of your Mentors for your. This is why we Mentor.

It is my hope that all of you learn this as well.

-Jim Wright

Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

I know how all of you guys feel, i am not a Senior.. but this was my second year on the team and i learned so much from the Seniors this year bc i spent to years with them on the team.. our team was holding a little meeting in the hallway about the seniors and saying that this was their last competition/etc and the Pit Chief (who is a senior this year) had to give his job down and give it to another person for the team next year.. it was really sad for me because since i spent two years with them, i kind of grew very attached to them and i looked up to all of the guys like big brothers to me..luckily i think all of the seniors this year are considering mentoring next year so i can see them during another season and hang out with them next season..

Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

NOOOOO FIRST! YOU CAN'T TAKE ME AWAY!!! *CRIES* NOOOOOOO!!!!

Well, now I'm really sad. Watching Woody, Shalen, and everyone leave our team has been hard to the nth degree. I'm dreading the day next year when I have to leave. I can't leave. Aw man, I think I'm going to go and cry latter tonight.

Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

I'm rather curious as to where all of the seniors will be going/what they will be doing after high school- did anyone start a thread about this yet?










yes, i am admittedly too lazy to do a search. (senioritis.)

Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

Oh my gosh, I was just thinking the same thing! But I'm already hard at work getting things together to start up a team at Michigan State University. I've sent out my email to the Eng Dean and will hopefully soon be recieving one back ::fingers crossed:: FIRST is like Starbucks coffee, it's addicting and you just can't seem to get away from it...

Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

Yes there is a thread about this in the chit-chat forum which would answer your question.

But getting back to what this thread is about...
Saturday of nationals was a sad day for me. I realized when my team got knocked out of the quarterfinals, that my senior year of FIRST and my driving carrear were both over. :( I will be going to WPI next year, however, so I will be able to work with a team for another four years.

Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

Even though it was my first year this year I put as much time as anyone into the robot. Its not going to be as bad for me as for some since I am just moving 30 minutes away to attend NC State. I've already warned them that they would have to put up with me. Its hard to grasp the thought of being a mentor. I know that I looked up to our mentors and I dont feel that I could ever reach the greatness that I viewed them with. There will be one other team member headed over to NC State with me next year as well plus we already have one mentor there so it wont be that bad. I'm still spending a lot of time in the lab even though season is over.........what else am I going to do with my time?
I never imagined that anything could transform my life in the way FIRST has. The experience is something that is priceless, and you only get to live it as a student for at most two years here at our school (2 year statewide residential magnet school for Juniors and Seniors). Being my last season it makes me want to push harder and harder to get others to join and live the experience.
ok i've rambled enough...........
-Aaron

Re: Sad Day for Seniors
 

I'm not a senior, but I'm close. I think it hit me while I was on a pizza run one day, I just said to myself: Wow. I have like a year til I'm out of school, and maybe even FIRST too.
It's really big, going from 12 years of structured schooling to college, the service, or a full time job...I don't know how I'm gonna manage >.<