[JoshJ]

Well, now that Nationals has passed, and my robotics career as a student slows and ends, I would like to thank the mentors on 316 who have given me the opportunities I have had for the past two years on FIRST. Coming from a smaller team, we get a good chance to see what everyone is doing and what still needs to be done. Even with everything that we see going on, our mentors have done huge loads of behind-the-scenes stuff. As said before, we only see the outcome of their work-- not the sweat and time and dedication that it took to get it done.

I think back to when i was maybe 12 and saw Robot Wars for the first time. I thought that was awesome, and I wanted to a part of that in the worst way. And here I am now, 5 years later, having been through 12 weeks of "crunch time", 3 regionals, 4 off season comps, and an event with close to 300 teams of people. Did I ever picture myself as part of something this huge? Never. After the excitement, when you get a chance to sit down and realize what you have been a part of, it is definitely awe-inspiring, and it really makes you wonder HOW, and then WHY.

HOW- well, because, for me, two people, Mr. Hinde and Ms. Halter, have had the inspiration to run a team for the past 6 years. Not only them, but also all the mentors that worked with them. They know who they are and they are appreciated in a huge way.

WHY- From an outsiders point of view, it borders on insanity. It takes one heck of a person to voluntarily give up 3 months, and more, of their life each year to deal with 10 teenagers. After two years, though, I think I see their vision. I have been inspired, taught, fed, moved around, and organized by all of these mentors on 316. Their impact has been huge.

Basically, all I have left to say is this:
To the peole who have helped make both the team and myself what we are today, if you are reading this, THANKS