This year I found myself no longer allied with my high school team...not somewhere I'd expected to be my senior year of FIRST. My name in here bears the number 177 because the Bobcats had been incredible in taking me in as one of their own when I felt the bonds between my old team and I breaking.
But anyway - I found myself on the FIRST sidelines for the first time ever. I was a primary operator for three years, sidelining it was odd to say the least. But I have to say it's been one of the most incredible seasons I've ever had - even without a team I saw everyday and could participate in meetings. I found myself just trying to lend a hand to anyteam that needed one - I did the website for team 73, would brainstorm online with members of teams from New Hampshire to Florida to California.
As far as competitions went....the only reason I got to any of them was because some incredible teams and some incredible people simply opened their arms and took me in. I got to Florida thanks to Jason Rudolph and the amazing people on T168 (not to mention a 30hr greyhound
) And even now, I owe my trip to Mayhem on the Merrimack to Lee Machado and the nuts of TJē
I told Matt I'd come to Tigerbolt next year...though part of me wonders if I can ever return to a proper team structure and should just remain a "FIRSTer for FIRST" and not just one team in particular....
~ lora
