Re: So, what's your favorite part of FRC?
 

It was working closely and getting really tight with the kids. (Anyone under 40 is a kid.) We shared victories, disappointments and a lot of hard work. There were some absolutely hilarious moments here and there that I will never forget.

Re: So, what's your favorite part of FRC?
 

Refereeing. As Ref Webb says, "It's the best seat in the house." (Although we seldom get to sit down ...)

I get to see all the matches, work with the drive teams and the field volunteers, and see all the wondrous robot designs in action.

Plus, it keeps my brain active, as we try to stay one thought ahead of some of the brightest loop-hole generators in the world ... :rolleyes:

Re: So, what's your favorite part of FRC?
 

I love scouting.....in freshman year I was recruited because we had a tiny team and there was no-one to scout. I got SO hooked on it that year.
This year I'm doing a lot besides scout [unofficial team leader, lead programmer, PR, fundraising] but I still have such great memories from scouting.
Being often the only scout meant that I would spend every second of competition in the stands, taking notes on every team out there....last year I pretty much knew every team's abilities by the end of the first day [or flattered myself that I did]. And of course I'm also the one responsible for promoting our team to others in the pits, which is lots of fun [meeting amazing geeky people].

Meeting other people at regionals is awesome. Last year we started talking with another team in the lobby of our hotel room late at night, and wound up being really great friends with them....we were later winning alliance partners at an off-season event, I went with them to Championships as team videographer, etc. They're from another school in our town, and it's fabulous to really be part of a community.

And I'm surprised no-one's mentioned Chief Delphi ;) It is such a great support network for the new, the confused, the seasoned, the worried, and the ecstatic.

Oh and giving the pitch to people who've never heard of FIRST [I did a lot of that this year for fundraising...heh].

The chance to work with people in other branches of FIRST, too.....this year I started and coached some FLL teams and that was loads of fun. So exciting to see young kids getting started on the path to FRC and, ultimately, engineering, technology and science. I'm going to try to get some of the older kids to come to our regional this year...they are VERY enthused about that.



I don't know how many times I've written the phrase, to a friend or posted on Facebook, 'I <3 FIRST'. Welcome to the craziest experience of your life.

Re: So, what's your favorite part of FRC?
 

The People.

I'm almost certain that I've seen a quote somewhere along the lines of "I came for the robots, but I stayed for the people."

Re: So, what's your favorite part of FRC?
 

My favorite part of FRC is hands down the camaraderie that is built between students, mentors, and parents. I have made some lifelong friends because of robotics, some of my friends just because of this past year of FIRST. We share bonds that are stronger than my other non robotics friends. I've shared some of my favorite moments with fellow team members, whether it was just some antic at 10:00pm on a February night or whether it was seeing all of our hard work pay off in Ann Arbor. The strategy, the planning, the build, and the competitions are all awesome, but it's those little emotional moments that happen along the way that make FRC what it is.