Re: things you got to do because of first
 

I've been interviewed on one of our local t.v. channels as well as our whole build season being filmed by PBS... it's pretty cool

Re: things you got to do because of first
 

One of the things I got to do because of FIRST was over the summer when a bunch of students on the team got to go to a training course for technicians of Allison Transmissions. It was called All Products Familiarization. In this we all got to see the factory workings and even a hybrid transmission for buses. This was one of the coolest things I got to do because Cyber Blue 234 has Allison Transmissions as a sponsor.

Re: things you got to do because of first
 

Last year as a rookie team one of my teammates and I drove two hours to meet with an animatronics expert
....he ended up being an invaluable resource because he pretty much taught us all about pneumatics and how they could be implemented not only in our design but in the real world
....he also had tons of toys to show off :D ( a full size raptor that could move and talk)

Another would have to been the times when we went to companies in the area that decided to donate metal to use and we ended up getting tours of their factory and learning how their product is made :)

Re: things you got to do because of first
 

Bingo on the networking answer. At a competition event, there are TONS of very important people present. Listen to the judges being introduced...an awful lot are CEOs, vice-presidents, and managers. Strike up a conversation and you'd be surprised at the opportunities that are presented.

For your first internship - and especially if you are still in high school - don't expect to get paid much if at all. You don't do internships for cash (although if you do a good job, it will start to pour in; I'm making a respectable wage for doing robotics/control systems programming all day!).

So to sum it up, find someone important and talk - don't be afraid to ask about their company and inquire about internship positions. Don't beg and grovel, but if you can make it apparent that you will be able to help a company out, they will quickly bring you in if they can. Still, some (mostly larger) companies have a more formal college-only (sometimes graduate-level only) internship policy. But it never hurts to ask.

After all, for what the average intern makes, the company is making off like a bandit :D

Re: things you got to do because of first
 

One thing I got was access to cool software I always wanted but never could get my hand on. I was using the 30 day demo of milkshape and loved it yet it ran out, started using Blender but wasn’t a fan of it, then I started using MED. Which also stunk, finally I joined robotics and hopped on the animation team and scored a copy of 3ds. To say the least I've gotten better. Also this proved to my parents that 3d modeling wasn’t some hobby and that it can be turned into a career.

Re: things you got to do because of first
 

I got to have my head shaved on Good Morning America.

I got to meet three Governors of NJ on three different occasions

I got to learn a lot of new stuff totally outside my area of expertise (biological/geological science)

I got a first name relationship with the Hawaiian shirt manufacturers in Honolulu

I got to torment hundreds of kids around the country and have them keep coming back for more....

Working with FIRST has opened a number of doors for me as a teacher and hopefully I've held the doors open for others who come after me.

wc :cool:

Re: things you got to do because of first
 

Well, besides the obvious things like going to atlanta, building a robot (cool enough in and of itself!), and etc...

I was featured in Philadelphia Magazine...

Re: things you got to do because of first
 

I met Dean Kamen. :)

Re: things you got to do because of first
 

Met Dean and the Governor of NY.

Re: things you got to do because of first
 

I have gotten to go to a medical devices convention (and meet dean)

-vivek

Re: things you got to do because of first
 

got to spend some great time with my son:)

Re: things you got to do because of first
 

FIRST got me a summer internship at FANUC robotics and pretty much locked my interest into a mechanical engineering career.

Also, because of our FIRST display at the MI State Fair this year, I got to personally meet Jennifer Granholm, the governor of Michigan.

Re: things you got to do because of first
 

FIRST got me interested in mechatronics engineering, and helped me get into my first pick university with a scholarship.

It also got me a sweet co-op job at General Motors along with the opportunity to mentor Team 1503.

Also because of FIRST, I got to travel to a lot of cool places like Disney World, ride a Segway for the first time, and meet a lot of great people.

Re: things you got to do because of first
 

I've been able to meet the celebrities of FIRST; Dean, Woodie, Dave, the list goes on and on. I've met people all over this country through this forum, and in person. I've been able to overcome great shyness and actually speak in front of a roomful of people (although I am still not comfortable with it). I've become the director of an organization of wonderful mentors. I've had the opportunity to escort VIPs around events and explain the magic of FIRST.

(And I echo the suggestion about talking with the judges if you can. And don't forget that if someone is bringing a VIP through the pits and you have an opportunity to say a few things about how FIRST has impacted you, DO IT! The anecdotes in this thread are some of the things that will impress VIPs more than anything an Ambassador could relate.)

Re: things you got to do because of first
 

Aside from meeting all the amazing people, I've been thrust into public speaking often enough that it's almost second nature, been to more major cities than I would otherwise have been to, re-directed my career path, and discovered what I'm truely passionate about.