[Paradox1350]

On a more personal level, for me, FIRST has taken a lot of time away from my school work. I'm still playing catch-up. But, on the plus side, I've discovered what it is I can do, what my potential is. I am my team's captain, and I discovered in myself to what level I can gain respect and to what level I can take charge. Also, I saw my team build something well beyond our knowledge, and well beyond what I thought we could do with our limited tools. I can honestly say that FIRST has been the most difficult and strenuous thing I've ever participated in. It's also taken the most dedication. But it's also been, hands down, the single greatest thing that I have done in high school. And the most rewarding. I don't know of any other way to gain the same type of real-world experience with engineering in high school. FIRST is set up as a real-world project. You need to acquire funding, get the right people on the team, get knowledge that you odn't have from elsewhere (engineers and research), manage your time, put in the dedication, and compete with other 'companies' to make the best bot (and best team.) Of course, FIRST is different in that it doesn't assess the 'best' the same way that, say, corporate America does. In that sense, everyone tries to be the best team possible, and those that try, are. Only those that don't try, aren't.