[SamcFuchs]

Try CAD. it's not so bad, and we could use some help.

Get involved with the community. There's over 6000 teams from all over the world, and you're one of the lucky 600 that get to go to a world championship where you can meet many of them. Talk to people.

There's plenty of places to talk to FRC people online if you just look for them. Do it. You know you want to.

Talk to [Jared]. He's really smart and he can help you a lot if you just grow a pair and talk to him. Ask questions.

Through robotics, you'll meet some of the most caring, helpful, and skilled people you've ever met. Every moment is a chance to make a new friend and learn something new, so take the opportunity.

With all that free time you have, try walking around the pits and talking to other teams. Don't know how to start a conversation? Try just asking about their robot. We're very passionate people, and we love to talk about what our fancy totemachines do and why and how. You don't know much about ours, but there is a lot to learn.

Pay attention to what Karthik says. The man has been doing FIRST for longer than you've been alive.

Dude, just stop worrying about...that thing. FRC people are very accepting, and they will be supportive. If you don't tell them, you give up on that support. Don't do that. They can definitely help you through whatever you're going through, and it's what you need, even if you refuse to admit it to yourself.

Don't just resign yourself to being safety captain so you can sit down in the pit all day. The world is going on around you, and you came here for a reason.

Treasure your sleep. You won't get any next season.

Start making friends with the Uberbots now. They're great people and really friendly. You'll take a liking to them very soon.

Trade for some shirts.

A lot of people are saying to "go all in." I'd like to counter with my own experience:

Don't get too involved. It's your freshman year and there's very few expectations of you. Help the team, yes. But since you may not always have a job at events, treasure your free time. By next year, you'll be the only person on your subteam and you'll have to keep the robot alive all on your own. Remember how events are fun and exciting, and a great time to hang out with your friends? Well, next year, you'll be having fun in a very different way, and it'll be far more stressful. You'll be at worlds, running on a few hours of sleep, trying to make the robot work by the next match so the team can cheer for something. You'll be the only person who can do this. At least five people will be looking over your shoulder and yelling at you like they know what you're doing. Now is the time to enjoy FRC so that you don't forget why you love it next year.

That got extremely specific and a bit ranty...

Welcome to FRC!