Re: You Know You're Proud To Be A FIRSTer When...
 

When you are thanked by a friend's parent, because they're so happy that you're helping your friend with a skill, through FIRST, that they can use in the real world.

Re: You Know You're Proud To Be A FIRSTer When...
 

When you're hosting a competition in October, and you start counting down in March already!

Re: You Know You're Proud To Be A FIRSTer When...
 

For me, when I heard about team 3125's bus accident, and saw the reaction teams from around the world had, I was proud to be a FIRSTer. It really proved to me once and for all that GP works, and just how much everyone in the program takes it to heart. The thread that contains the condolances already has about 1/3 of the posts that the second game hint got before build season. I know that right now we are all busy designing robots and thinking more about soccer than we ever have before, but that so many teams, students, and mentors took even 5 minutes out of their busy day to send a simple message to this team was amazing. I don't know of any other sport where this would happen.

Team 3125: know that there is an entire international community out there thinking and praying for you, and that in some small way we hope the messages we sent to you will help you get through this difficult time a little easier. If there is anything we can do, I am sure the entire FIRST community (even those of us a world apart) will rush to your side. Good luck, and have a great season.

Re: You Know You're Proud To Be A FIRSTer When...
 

In the scheme of FIRST, I realize that I am a mere mentor puppy, as I am only going on 5 years with FRC and three with FLL. To put this in perpective, our lead FRC mentor has been to all of the FRC Championships and remembers flying to NH to pick up the kit - that was the only way to get the parts back then... A few favorite moments over my brief tenure:
1. When a home schooled student on our team designed a control system for Rack and Roll that won the Leadership in Controls award; he went on to pursue an engineering degree at UC and also still assists our team every year as a technical advisor at the Ohio Thunderhawk FLL regional which we host...
2. Coaching a week long FLL training class over the summer and burning up the entire curriculum in under 3 days; even the kids who had never seen an NXT kit were line tracking and using all of the sensors by that point, which triggered a mad dash for us to create new challenges for the students!
3. Seeing my FLL team win the Teamwork Award at this year's Thunderhawk Regional in Ohio...
4. When the Kilobytes (FRC1024) came to Atlanta a few years ago, they found thier tools and parts ended up somewhere else... We were pitted next to them and opened our pit to them. GP at its best!
5. Getting my 13 yearold son engaged in FIRST...
6. Getting my employer involved in supporting FIRST...

Re: You Know You're Proud To Be A FIRSTer When...
 

First competition as a freshman, i spent the first hour in the pits, helping other teams program their bot. Missed our first match too. But extremely happy to help other teams get their bots on the field and have a good match!

Having the first FLL kids realize what FIRST is like and how awesome it is, and beg to be on the FRC team not knowing there isn't a restriction on getting on the team.

Making my resume and having a giant skills section all because of a year in FIRST.

Finally, have given 20 little kids something to do with their lives that's not video games that's just as fun

Re: You Know You're Proud To Be A FIRSTer When...
 

When your relatives drive 2.5 hours just to come see your competition

When you complain about not being able to wear your team's shirt once every week or so

When the only time you can wake up early is if you're going to Robotics

Re: You Know You're Proud To Be A FIRSTer When...
 

Your dad drives 2 hours to see your FTC Competition.

You still participate though you lost your Xbox 360 in Portland last year.

You still wear your old shirts from previous years.

You mentor FLL or FTC teams and want to be an FRC mentor after you graduate.

Re: You Know You're Proud To Be A FIRSTer When...
 

When you have connections in high places and get your teams photos into the school yearbook.

Re: You Know You're Proud To Be A FIRSTer When...
 

You can honestly say you are just as proud for the FTC team that won competition as you would be for your own team.

Re: You Know You're Proud To Be A FIRSTer When...
 

le Bump

You're proud to be a FIRSTer when you consider it more meaningful to be Team Captain then when you got your Eagle Scout

Re: You Know You're Proud To Be A FIRSTer When...
 

You know you're proud to be a FIRSTer when you always see the need to correct people about Robotics not being a sport!

Re: You Know You're Proud To Be A FIRSTer When...
 

This is only temporary. Your Eagle Scout will stay with you your whole life. It is far more important to your parents (and me too!) I bet.

Re: You Know You're Proud To Be A FIRSTer When...
 

Well yeah. But for the time being being an FRC Captain is far more fun :D

Re: You Know You're Proud To Be A FIRSTer When...
 

When your main goal for 2012 was to teach a new generation of students that will replace all the team members in just one year. we had one year with a shortage of students and next year all the members will be the freshmans of this year.
This goal was greater than winning in the competition and I think I achieved it.
Also I chose what I want to learn in university just because my involvement with FIRST.