[Rachel Lim]

I still believe that there are multiple ways to inspire students in FRC. The two main methods can be grouped into what I call the "CD method" and the "non-CD method." I still believe that CD is not always representative of the majority of students in FRC, or even representative most of the time. Proof: my team. I've seen again and again that the logic that works on CD doesn't work on my team. They just disagree with some of the most fundamental ideas that CD builds on--specifically that success and learning from those more successful is the basis of inspiration. They're not wrong; they're just different.


This new champs structure is aimed at students like them, who just want to have a chance to compete more. It's aimed at teams who want to know that they did something right. It's aimed at everyone who isn't on CD, who isn't as obsessed about it, but who still could be inspired by it.


I don't like this at all. I wouldn't find it inspiring to get to champs just because the bar was lowered, I would feel like we didn't deserve to go there. But as I said before, most people would disagree with me and I know many other students on my team who would. Most people just want the opportunity to get to champs, something they'll never get otherwise. They want to say that "we made it to world championships." FIRST wants to give them that.

But there are also people who want to have that top goal to push towards. They want to keep the competition which pushes us all to do our best and strive for more the next year, because without the competition what is FRC? Without winners, there is no competition. I truly believe FIRST wants to give us this too. But there's another very large group of people who don't care about this.

I'm just sad there isn't a middle ground between both groups. FIRST had to pick between bringing the bottom up while keeping the top, and lowering the top while bringing the bottom up more. They picked between district champs / super regionals and keeping champs, and splitting champs. I'm still disappointed in the choice that they made.