[Amanda Morrison]

Funny that I found this, as we had a long discussion about the aspects and spirit of FIRST today.

Dean Kamen started FIRST to inspire kids to go out and have fun inventing, creating, and persevere in the areas of math, science, and technology. What I am sure he only dreamed of was the growth of this great program, and the effect it could have on kids that don't even want to study in any of those areas.

I, myself, am a photojournalism major. Many people ask me why I am involved in a science and technology program when I can't do any of the technical work. There is indeed a lot to a FIRST team, as I am discovering by being a mentor/advisor- fundraising, marketing, planning, designing... I could keep going on and on. There are several ways to be on a FIRST team besides the actual building of a robot, everyone knows this. FIRST has spread to parents, teachers, and engineers nationwide, and as everyone knows, once you catch the FIRST bug, you're affected for life. There is no failure of FIRST if you don't inspire someone to be a better engineer, scientist, or mathematician. FIRST's spirit and inspiration is a gift, but it is not a gift that has limitations. If you inspire someone, it doesn't matter quite what they are inspired about, they're going to give it their all.

There is much pride to saying that one is on a FIRST team. Regardless as to what trophies are on the shelf or how many medals around your neck, every team should have an immense feeling of pride. Every child or involved has a story to tell about FIRST, how it changed their lives, and how it touched them. I honestly don't know how you can be involved in FIRST and never really get into it. It does happen, though. Events like the national championship should not matter when it comes to place, when it comes down to it. The nationals are where teams compete, true, but regardless if they have the nationals at Epcot or not, the true spirit of FIRST will be present. Kids who join just to go to Florida should not be kicked out of the team, in my opinion. As a mentor, if I encountered a child whose involvement was not geared toward FIRST and was instead based around a trip to Florida, I would work extra hard to inspire that person with FIRST. Extracurriculars are just after school activities. FIRST is a feeling, an inspiration, and a guideline for life. If half of these kids are as fired up about their engineering jobs in the future as they are for FIRST now, it would be worth all the effort, time, and money.

There are a lot of things which are done that people might not think are within the spirit of FIRST, but of the greatest, I think not allowing a child to enter a team is the worst that can be done. I realize that all teams have monetary restrictions, and I realize that some teams would have over a hundred members if they didn't restrict their membership. To me, this is just a cry for another team. Within our conversation about FIRST spirit today and after watching Dean's interview on 60 Minutes, I think one of the biggest injustices is refusing to inspire a child. I'm not just applying this to FIRST Robotics teams, I'm also talking about LEGO leagues, etc. There are schools that have two teams within them. It can happen. Honestly, I feel that if we have to deny a student the right to inspiration, that would truly be the failure of the team. If we can't afford to take that person on, I know that maybe I should try a little harder funding-wise to make sure that everyone can be a part...and if it becomes too much, maybe we should split into two teams. After coming from a successful team to having to start from literally nothing, I have a newfound determination to spread FIRST spirit everywhere.

I learned early on from two great mentors that FIRST really is all about the kids. True, winning is fun, but "winning takes place when students are inspired." I understand that not every team is capable of everything that I have written, and that every team is run differently. But I do know that if every mentor can touch one person and inspire them like that, we'll have a great future ahead of us.

Thanks.