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By the way / FYI ...

If you like this story and in case you missed it the first time around. There is a collection of stories out there you can use for team purposes (recruitment, sponsorship, mentors, helping to start new teams, etc).
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/pa...le&paperid=389

Some of them are as good as the story attached here. We are also encouraging teams to collect more stories like this for similar purposes in their regions. If this made you fell FIRST is special, imagine what it can do for recruitment, gaining a sponsor, getting a school district on board.

Couple these stories with the wonderful data and facts available at the FIRST Resourse Center at www.usfirst.org and you have an awesome package that really explains what FIRST is about.

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That story held so many parallels for me, and after just one year in FIRST I realize that these experiences will stick with me forever. I cannot see myself living a life without FIRST in the near future.

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Wow, what an amazing piece of writing. Probably the best I've seen so far in my three years of being a FIRSTer. I want to give this person a big hug, because they understand FIRST. They get it.

I'm one of the only few people on my team that get FIRST, and I'm so glad people left and right on other teams are finally reaching the point of understanding. Way to go!

Kyle, thank you for posting this. What an essay.

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There really isn't much else to say after all these posts but I'll take a stab anyways. That was a wonderfully written essay that final puts down on paper what I, and I am sure many other people, feel about FIRST. It is this feeling that keeps the Holy Grail alive and continuing to grow. The author of this piece should be extremely proud of what he or she has written. It is fantastic and I agree with every part of it. Congratulations! Thank you, Kyle for sharing this piece with all of us.

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Thank you to whoever wrote this essay, because you have summed up what I have been tyring to say for three years. This is what I can show all of those who say to me "So what? It's just a robot- I don't get why you love it so much." This is pretty much summing up (again) what everyone else has said, but it was wonderful and I hope s/he comes forward and takes pride in putting the right perspective on FIRST and all of its participants. :)

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I loved that essay for the reason that I can relate to it. I'm very passionate about this program and we really need to make it bigger and spread this kind of message out to everyone about how great it is and how important it is for the progress of our country

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Ok everyone, I fess up. I wrote it and asked Kyle to post it for me. I'm not very well known around here, and I wanted to make sure this was received with as little bias as possible. As you can derive from the ending I wrote this a while ago, before kickoff. I never intended to post it, it was for myself. Watching all the squabbles over wins and penalties and points made me upset, I knew this wasn't the point of FIRST but it seemed every time someone tried to point that out they were washed away in a sea of anger and anti-GP sentiment.

I hope I got my message across to many people, and I appreciate your kind words. I didn't write this for the compliments, like I said I never intended to post it. I figured it would be a good reminder to people and by doing it anonymously I would spare any trouble coming at me over it.

On a side note, I'd like to point out an act of Gracious Professionalism I was part of this week. My team and team 358 and possibly others are doing a two-day public demonstration at Stonybrook University this coming weekend during I-CON (www.iconsf.org). Due to refurbishing in progress, our 2002 robot is the only functional one. However we do not have any of the game pieces from the 2002 game. Also, all of our battery charging equipment is en route to Atlanta. I contacted 358 and explained our predicament, and within minutes we were promised access to chargers, precharged batteries and a goal with game soccer balls. I really appreciate their help, and it really pleases me to see a team so eager to jump to our assistance. Thanks 358.

And thanks again to all of you for your kind words, you're part of what makes FIRST so special.

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I wanted to back up Matt on this, he is the one who asked me to post it for him. What else to you expect from someone related to the awesome Mkrass?

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A little bit more self-confidence ;)

But, I'm really proud that you decided to take your deserved credit for this, Matt. Which is what I've been telling you since the beginning. You shouldn't be embarassed by the praise, but rather PROUD to have made such an impact. You really have figured out what FIRST is all about.

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Matt,

This is a great essay. It tells the story of FIRST from a student's point of view, and it is well-written. This is a shining example of a skillful writer, eloquently expressing his views in essay form.

Good writing skills combined with an analytical mind will take you far, my friend.

I am honored to mentioned with two of my heroes in this essay. Thank you, Matt.

Andy Baker

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I appreciate your compliments Andy, as well as everyone else's. You don't need to thank me for being mentioned, the help you've offered to me and many others is more than thanks enough.

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wow .. that was an exceptional essay .. it truly embodies everything that FIRST is and what FIRST means to me as well ...

Kyle: tell whoever wrote it congratulations

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matt, thanx for coming out and taking credit for something u well deserve. good luck with clarkson

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i agree, very nice. like so many this was my second year and i have been trying to put into words what FIRST means to me and well you hit right on. you are a good writer and i cant wait to hear more from you.

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Just to remind everyone I did not write that, I just posted it for Matt Krass he was the author.