Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I'm very excited that the 2010 FRC season is about to begin. One of the thoughts that I've been thinking about this year is how I can be a better team member on 418.

First up - I'm going to spend more time listening and paying attention in team meetings and planning sessions.

What are some of your plans for the upcoming season?

Jane

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I'm unbelievably excited. For Kickoff, I'm staying with some of my former teammates (now mentees, technically?) on 1714, so as I type this post I'm packing my overnight bag. Something oddly thrilling about packing that gets me pumped...

As a person, I plan on working on my teaching and assisting skills. I've always had a bit of trouble showing someone a concept instead of just doing it for them, so hopefully when assisting team 2791 this year I'll get better at the skill of teaching.

As a FIRSTer, I didn't do much programming last year, and I hope to step that up this year. Hopefully I'll be able to both learn from and teach my peers on 2791.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I'm looking forward to being as helpful as possible at the Florida Regional this year. And maybe making my way up to North Carolina? :) Although I am more likely to go to Championships this year.
I am also going to try to mentor my alumni team this year. :D Last year did not work out so well because I was so busy. This year is going to be hard as well because of classes but I am determined to help them out.

I am missing Kickoff though.... but only so I can Emcee for an FLL Tournament! :D My first time ever, so I am hoping that I do good!

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

My favorite part of kick off is that all of my friends fly in to visit me once a year. Its like a birthday that I have to share with a robot (and since I share my actual birthday with my sister, that doesn't feel so weird).

I think that there will be a good gasp of "we can do THAT?!", and I'm psyched to hear it.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I can't recall being more excited about a kickoff. Honestly it scares me quite a bit.

Personally, I will do my best to understand all options and exhaust all possibilities, especially early in the build season. It is too easy to lock into a specific way of thinking or designing; I have fallen into that trap before and don't wish to do it again.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I think my first year I was like that. But I'm sure in 2014 I will be like that because that will be my 10th kick-off. Which, does not seem that far away.... still can't get over this is my 6th year in FIRST....:ahh: 'Tis insane.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Considering this is my senior year, I'm especially excited for tomorrow's kick-off.

Plus, I haven't been 100% on FRC in the past two years, but this year, I'm 100% on board and I look forward to working with some really brilliant team members.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

The gasp I'm more familiar with is "HOW are we gonna do THAT?!??"

I'd like to have more motivation skills....sure would be neat to figure out how to be a leader

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I am getting an entire semester's worth of kick off excitement crammed into just a few days; I purposefully stayed away from FIRST last semester to avoid getting distracted from some tough classes. Now I'm really excited to be back with my high school team for kick-off tomorrow!

The skill I'd like to develop is how to maintain both schoolwork AND active FIRST participation, even if it's only posting on CD. I'm in my second half of my second year of college now, and I finally feel like I'm ready to try balancing FIRST with schoolwork. Here goes!

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

This year, I'm going to work on being more patient with freshman and rookies on our team this year. In years past, I held this idea that others would catch on to the program and have the expirence I had, right from the getgo. Considering this is my 6th year in FIRST, 3rd year in FRC, I had more experience in my rookie year of FRC than my teammates did. I wasn't used to the idea of other FIRSTers not knowing the true values of FIRST, and what the program is really about.

So, I'm going to try to be more patient with rookies, and explain things to them.

-Nick

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

SEN10R YEAR!
&& my 6th year with FIRST.
resolution? be more involved with building again! I used to love it, but last year I was needed to plan out the trip to nationals, so I didn't get as much hands on as years past.

also, I'm DETERMINED to get the town to pass our warrant article for $7k of funding for the robotics team. after 8 years of no support, I'm not moving until this town finally gives a little support. if we can accomplish that, then I'll feel more at ease when I move to VA.

I feel like since our team had a crummy year last year, this year we're just going to blow the roof off. Now we have mistakes we can learn from which will make us even better than before.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Can you mentor me on this technique?

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Jane, you're one of the best listeners I know. Maybe it's the paying attention in meetings part you need to work on, if you think you have been lacking.

I'm going to try to be a little more gracious with the tournament staff when things don't go right at events.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I'm looking to improve both my time management and general leadership skills this year. I'd like to actually have the motivation to do some of my homework (I DO have the time. Just not the motivation), and possibly snag a job so that I'll have some money.

I also really need work on leading rather than just doing. I've got the same habit that Chris does: doing instead of teaching. As a team leader and a junior, I need to start passing on what I've learned and start taking a little more of a hands-off approach. As a mentor told me yesterday, the attitude that he wants the captains to take this year is more of a "welcome to mentoring" standpoint.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Agreed, Eric. I've tried to stay away and managed mostly but FIRST has still managed to break through, in specifically, ChiefDelphi :ahh: .

As for this year, I'm extremely excited and looking forward to an awesome build season. I'm personally going to try and get more students involved to a greater extent rather than have just a core group of students and a bunch on the sidelines.

I'm also going to try to balance two jobs (One retail and one database management) as well as full-time schooling AND FRC. It's promising to be an interesting semester :D .

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I'm pumped & ready to go, but I still haven't had my usual pre-kickoff nightmare about getting lost on the way to kickoff.

As a mentor, I hope to develop my skills in the following areas:
- Discern the current and potential skills of everyone on the team.
- Delegate tasks & responsibilities accordingly, and then let the person/team take ownership of the product.
- Teach students to think for themselves - not just follow instructions.
- Keep everybody productively occupied.
- Keep an open mind on technical approaches. Don't just latch on to the first idea that comes to mind.
- Keep all receipts and submit them in a timely manner...

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Sign me up for this class too...last time I tried taking a year off just for the sake of taking a year off, a team called me and wanted to basically "hire" me for build season...since then, I've had a few years off out of necessity(read: two new additions to the family, 14 months apart)

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I'm extremely excited for kickoff. :D

This year, I'm looking to improve my software and management skills, and am looking forward to meeting and becoming friends with newcomers on our team, and those on other FRC teams; the FIRST community really is an excellent one. :)

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

This is my first post here in awhile not asking for help and just for fun. I know I'm excited about kickoff because I'm spending time on Chief Delphi again instead of finding other ways to procrastinate. As a senior, I can't wait to graduate, but am also sad and excited to see my fourth and final year on the team.

I like this post. I think I need to start to stay back a little if I really want to teach kids what I think is important, which to me is both mechanical abilities but equally the ability to think for oneself and act independently of a safeguard. As captain, I hope to become more like a mentor, so I'll be better prepared to do whatever leadership jawn I want to commit my life to.

Lol, I found this funny, since for the first time ever my dad is letting me drive to kickoff by myself, and one of the slight fears of mine is I'll take the wrong exit on the way to Upper Darby and get completely lost.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I'm stoked for 2010, had a nice break and I'm ready to pull out the rest of my hair.
I'm going to try and not whine when they change rules due to "clarification" (seriously).
I hope to volunteer for my first time at a regional or nats because we weren't able to register for 2 events this year, so I'm looking forward to that also.
Good Luck Ya'll!

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Strangely enough, I am reducing my involvement with the team (1802). The team is starting to mature and I find that some of the parents are stepping up to fill the gaps. I am trying to get them to recruit more mentors (there are many out there that can do more than I can) and get the seniors to mentor the freshmen. Perhaps in a few years, we will get new mentors that used to be students with the team. :o

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

In a large group such as my team, I often talk to much and bring up topics/conversations that are barely related, and really just wastes everyone's time and energy. I'd like to do that less.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Very excited :)
My goal this year is to do less work. Therefore getting the rest of the team to do more work and they learn more.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Although I helped in the 1999 season this will be my 10th year at a Kick Off. Each year I am excited about the new game release and each year I get less interested in the interesting speeches given before the release. I want to get right to the game, but we all know how important the speeches are and the information given. It is good for the students to hear what goes into setting all of this up and how it will help them in the future.
When you’re new at this you tend to think that your idea is the best and it is crazy to do it any other way. I have learned through the years that there are many ways to win the game and it is better to work with the group and come up with a plan together. I hope to listen to others better and make this a great learning experience for the students. (That is what this is about anyway).

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

This will be my 7th FRC Kickoff. I am still excited despite not really being part of a team anymore.

A skill I would like to learn this season? I want to learn more how to design and make. Maybe not well enough to build a drive train or an arm but well enough to make a mount for a sensor. 7 years ago I learned how to use mills,lathes, drill presses, etc and I haven't put the knowledge to much use, I would like to change this.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Admittedly, I'm working on not yelling at kids this year.:p

I want to begin designing efficiently and intelligently. I want to learn to dominate a match.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Each year, I get more and more excited about kickoff, and this being my senior year...lets say I'm not sure how I'm going to sleep tonight...I just spent all day in the robotics lab improving our crate, doing some last-minute kickoff planning, and building storage systems, and can't wait to get started on the robot!

And as for goals...teach my team everything I know, and get some promising, newer members to love this stuff as much as I do.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

My goal for 2010 is to develop remote mentoring skills. :]

And oh yes, I am excited!

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I am excited for tomorrow which made me ADD all week.

I am with Kara and Chris, this year I need to work on teaching more than doing (my goal is to be responsible for less than 25% of the electrical wiring this year, I did almost all of it last year because the other members interested seemed to not be able to stay focused.)

We have a team that is 1.5 to 2x larger than last year if people stay in it and continue to stick to it, many of these members are Freshman so I am also hoping to learn to have more patience in teaching them and listening to their ideas.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I love the fact that so many Mentors and leaders have responded and all with great anticipation for tomorrows event! Yes, I too am itching to see our new challenge.

What skill would I like to develop? I want to learn Inventor.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Excitement is peaking.

I guess I set a goal this year of making one new goal for myself.

Hey, wait a minute... I'm done!!

Good luck and see you on the field!!!

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

We are, with help from other local Rochester NY teams, hosting a "tailgating" style party starting at 7 AM Saturday! Stop by for food including pancakes, sausage, bacon, and games outside in the parking lot! Weather will not stop us! :yikes:

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Considering this is my senior year, my ultimate goal is to pass on my knowledge. I've been quite active in FIRST since the summer of 2005, and I don't want my experience to go to waste.

I also want to learn as much as I can. That has always been my goal, and always will be. If anything, I've learned that winning is fun, but that's not what matters at the end of the day. When all is said and done, it's who you met, the connections you made, and the competitions, and time spent with your team building a machine that you can all call your own that you remember with pride. Therefore, I also want to meet lots of cool and fascinating people. What better place to do something like that than on Chief Delphi and at FIRST competitions.


Good luck everyone with your endeavors! :)

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Last year everyone was saying "Are you ready?" and I thought I was as ready as could be. Then, when the GDC was in front of the black curtain, my brain was screaming "I'm not ready!".
Now I am wondering if I am excited. I say yes but I doubt it will hit me until tomorrow.

My goal for this season is to succeed. I want to succeed in helping my team. I want to succeed in helping other teams. I want to succeed in spreading FIRST into the community.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I am quite excited for this year's kick-off. It's hard to believe it will be my 7th FRC season! This year, I'm excited to bring a few of the young ladies on my FLL team to watch Kickoff with the big kids. Best wishes to everyone this season!!!! ...and please take advantage of a full night of sleep tonight... it might be your last full 8 hours of rest for the next 6 weeks. :]

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Oh man! It just hit me.....this is my 7th season.....thanks for pointing that out Brittany! :ahh:

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I am definetly excited about Kickoff! Everyone has been preparing, training, and getting ready. It is at Kickoff where you begin. It's like the start of a race, you've got your car all tuned up, practiced a few moves, and now your ready to see the competition; to see what your up against.

As for a skill,
Last year, since i was the only programmer, i learned everything by myself and from scratch. This year, since i know the fundementals i want to learn more advanced programming concepts, and teach the old ones to the new programmers.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I'm really excited. It's senior year for me, and I've been with Team 2503 since its inception.

The last two years I've been responsible for our website, and everything associated with it (pictures, etc). Never got very far with it at all, even though I'm a great web developer. [It's just that when I have to design a website along with building it, the design part catches me up. :( ]

For this year, I've proclaimed for the last few months that I'll be team captain. I don't have great 'leadership' skills, but I really want to be central to the robot design and construction, and drive team; things I was left out of (at least partly) in the past years. I really want to do design/build team because I kid you not, 99% of the things I suggested last year (things that basically every team included, like belt ball pickup) were shot down by our then senior-topped team, who proceeded to include their radical, over-thought-out features. Needless to say, we ended up in 47th place.

I'm gonna have to watch the kickoff on NASA TV at home because we're not going to the kickoff event. Our coach's aunt passed away recently, and her funeral is tomorrow. A local rookie team is bringing our KOP up to us.

That'll be all. ::safety::

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Wait. Kickoff is soon? When is it?!

Of course I'm excited! I'm already excited for the robots to be shipped off so the competitions can begin again.

This year I am planning on letting all of the other fantastic mentors do what they do best with the robot, and I'm going focus my attention on the awards. I am hoping to improve my herding skills.

Wow. Me too.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Ah yes, me too. It's hard this year, I founded the team a few years back and now I find myself an entire continent apart. They seem to be getting there stuff together, the teachers have stepped up in part of the administrative roll that I filled while I was there. And we now have two new captains both of whom are charging forward.

I can't wait to see them and their robot.

(I still run the server so I will get to see all the bytes)

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

That’s Quite the similar story I started Robotics in grade 6 so this would be my 6th year as well. And I was the only grade 9 in the pit crew and I was the Driver Last year, as well this is my Third year participating in FRC and I love it! To answer the threads question I CAN'T WAIT!!!! :cool: I’m really excited to step up this year because most of our senior students are gone and it’s time for our year as seniors to mentor and lead our team to victory :rolleyes: but the 2 things which I would like to improve on would have to be: 1 to be aware of my surroundings for personal reasons :D and 2ndly to help the people around me become better people and to succeed in their futures rather than just focusing the attention on myself all the time.

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

I am so excited for this year I'm bordering on crazy:yikes: . We've grown drastically as a team this off season and i'm so pumped for the opportunity to see all of our new students at work. I'm also excited to see some of our former students really step up into a mentoring role.
This is by far the most prepared team 1902 has been for kickoff. I just got back from helping set up our new build space (4th one so far) and getting everything ready for build to start, and it's made me even more excited.

The biggest thing I would like to improve on this season is my efforts to secure a new, permanent, build space since the one we're in is going to be torn down after this season. Hopefully we can become a bit less nomadic in the coming years. I would also like to improve on my teaching skills.

Oink Oink...

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

besides my first kick-off ever (2004), I think the same way as you do.

My goal this year is to be more involved with the team that i mentor. Last year, i was rarly around to help out because of classes and work. This year, I managed to schedule my classes and work schedule so that im able to help the team out as much as possible. The school is a 2 hour bus ride away from my place so it's a challenge getting there, but it's a challenge im willing to take head on.

let year 7.5 begin
(I did a half season in 2003)

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Well, I'm on a Co-Op back in my home town this semester. Looks like I get to mentor my old team. That will be an experience. I'm excited for all yous, even if I don't get bogged down into the game as I did in high school.

My Goal is to not put *any* direct effort into the robot. We'll see how well that works.

(tangent: You last visited: 08-02-2009 at 01:25 AM :ahh: )

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

first, i just wanna say: Happy FIRST Day (one of those, anyway), everybody! =D

second, this year's gonna be a real challenge. it's my senior year and last year was our rookie year, so basically i feel as one of the founders of the team. this year i'm also the captain and i hope to really succeed (in competition and and in advertising FIRST in the community) this year so we would leave a real legacy behind us. Hopefully, this year will be the season that will prove to our school that competing in FRC will never be a question again. my final exams are really important, too, and juggling between the two isn't going to be easy (my parents are of course worried, even more than i am, but they know how passionate i am about FIRST). I hope i'll be able to do my best in leading our team to new heights and, above all, prevent the chaos that was going on last year. this December got wasted on doing nothing and it's not so good but... everything's gonna be alright in the end, right?

right? ><

Good luck to all of you in FRC 2010! =D

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

For me its mentally preparing myself for the massive season we have this semester. Even coming into my position as team director and expecting it to be hard - it is still overwhelming. We have began to implement drastic changes on team 922. We hope we can come back strong from our fall last season. Our team is making progress and we will be not only be working on FIRST but we will be working for the BEST National competition after FIRST Nationals. I hope I can come through and lead the team in the right direction. Look forward to seeing you all at Lonestar and the Championship! Good luck to all!

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Gaby,
Good luck this season in FRC, and congratulations to the team for earning at spot at the inaugural year of the BEST National competition. That's a big deal and Ultimate will meet the challenge, I have no doubt.

Jane

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Thanks Jane! We won't disappoint!

Re: Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?
 

Holy Necro-post Batman!