I have watched the program with a reverence and respect since my first nationals experience while traveling with my sister's team. Sure the competition was great, amazing machines, huge flashy teams, can't beat the X-Cats banner
The overwhelming mixed feelings of need and amazement towards technology in the world and technology adapted by the students could not have been experience by just me. And then I got to the awards ceremony... Wow, I had never been so moved in my life. I wasn't even on a team and I was already ready to go out and build bridges, build
robots, build a new world. 5 years later, 5 years of personal and team problems and I'm still here. Why am I coming back next year? The same reason many weathered firsters do, for the future. My 14-year old brother. I have been bringing him in to FIRST during the build sporadically. I'll show him the robot, show him whatever I'm working on, show him how to square up on part on the mill. My brother has an amazing mind despite the fact that he is labeled LD because of problems he has with reading. He needs to know what he can do with his mind. He is a whiz with math, observant, a quick learner. All he needs is someone to show him that he *can* do it. He *can* become an engineer no matter how many labels are put on him. That's why we keep on coming back. To help make a better tomorrow,to prevent out mistakes from happening again, to help our youth feel the same inspiration as we did. Isn't that worth the work? Next time you're disappointed with the program, people, even society- Think of my brother, a rookie on your team, an amazing kid without a team in his/her area. Thank you to all of the mentors, You ARE changing the future.