Yes, I read the whole thing; twice and copied it to my collection of FIRST Testimonials. It’s excellent! (Well composed too; definitely a classic)
And I understand everything you are thinking and going through.
Al Skierkewicz said it quite well.
So how do I top Al?
Let me try….so here is my contribution:
*1st think that came to my mind:
“Refreshing….. I wish I possess your insight and knowledge when I was in college. I would be one awesome dude right now!”
Someday our paths will cross and then you’ll be sorry. I can bore you with hours of stories. That’s what older generation mentors like to do (just ask my students).
And I’m envious of your “A” list of friends too. ;-) NYC FIRSTers are not too pronounced outside of NYC. (That’s a long story)
*2nd thought:
Congratulations Grasshopper. You have achieved the state of FIRST Nirvana. You may now leave the temple. (A cheesy pun from the 70’s… see I told you I was from an older generation)
*3rd thought:
I think you have also answered your own questions…..
Questions like:
“Who am I to say I am qualified to decide what’s good for the future?
How do I know I am doing the right thing?
And for that matter, how can anyone say they are qualified to decide what’s good for the future?
If we make that decision based on the values we learned when we were growing up, and if all values in a society are all cultural relative, who can say what is the absolute right or wrong decision? “
….because the answers to your questions are the questions or there is no correct answer.
(Sorry if I sound fortune cookie-ish, I wonder why?). All these questions plays in my mind all the time as my sanity check.
I feel questioning yourself is not a shortcoming, it is a gift! It’s how you manage and use this gift is how you will affects the world around you, your future and other people’s future.
“Keep your friends and foals close to you because there is a lesson to be learned from everyone.”
One more thing….
*4th Though (see I can be quite long winded and boring, my 3 children say it all the time):
One of the differences between an engineer that solves problems and an engineer who finds problems (analogy to thinking out of the box) is the ability to question things, the ability to seeing situations and problems that others cannot. (this remind me of an engineering joke….. another time)
BUT….these questions and the ones above will also keeps you growing and feeling alive, sometime frustrating but nothing is perfect- that’s life.
And one more thing….
*5th Though:
Why do I think FIRST is doing the right think?
Every year I meet students that I mentored in the pass who comes up to me and thank me for the guidance that I offer them when they were on the FIRST teams. Some didn’t take the advice but they were happy that that had to insight to choose their path.
That’s my reward- the student “Thank You.” It justifies all the time, energy, and hard work it takes to mentor several teams a year. (That’s another long story….)
Last comment (I promise):
For the little I have contributed to CD, I’m ecstatic to have gotten onto your “List of FIRST Stars.” Thanks! You have put a big smile on my face and made my day.
