[JVN]

I feel that FIRST is about learning. The entire competition is structured such that it benefits all who are involved. It provides a great opportunity for those involved to learn whatever their heart desires.

There is always something to learn, and there is always something to teach.

Every person involved has something they know, that they can pass on to others, so chances are if there is something you want to learn about, there is someone out there who can teach you.

Success should be defined in terms of how many students have been "touched" by the program. Everyone involved benefits in some way. Even those students who are only in it "for the trip to Disney" will come out of this program better than they were. Does that not constitute a success? Should successes be measured by students who are inspired to go into engineering? What about the students who went through the program and learned that engineering isn't for them, and instead went onto do something else with their lives. Should they be counted as successes? I feel that every single person that goes through the person is a success. There are no "bad experiences" only unpleasant ones. Everyone who experiences this wonderful, amazing program is a success.

In this competition, the sky truly is the limit. Anything is possible. Success is showing this fact to those participating, and letting them know that anything they come up with, anything they dream up can be done. They can learn about almost anything they want.

The sheer magnitude of the opportunity this program represents astounds me. It makes me wish I was a HSer again knowing then what I know now. As a mentor, I try to show the HSers on my team what I know, what I have learned, and encourage them to learn on their own.

This stuff seriously excites me, and I am thankful I have been given the opportunity to experience this. I can't even comprehend the possible benefits involved in this program, and the impact it has had, and will have on my life.

Thank you all for being a part of it!