To save yourself some time, just read my signature.
lol (ok a few of you know.... I think
)
Job references, scholarship references, help for trying to get a summer internship or job? All of that was through people I know through participating in FIRST. I wouldn't have even heard of Northeastern if it wasn't for stopping by a table on a break from the Pit my junior year at Championship at Epcot.
But back onto topic, the irony of it is I feel closer link to the group of us "kids" from my freshmen year of High School than my senior year on S.P.A.M.. It most likely is due to the fact there was a few of us (like 15 at the most versus by senior year 50 or so students!) and we went through so much like moving 3 times during build season, the two hour drives to competitions in Orlando and Titusville (the parties there were the best), and more. I'm not saying the students I met in my last few years on S.P.A.M. are bad, they're of different set of personallities. Night and day is a little extreme but at least to me its close to the mark. The early years of any team seems to be rough and well those of us who helped form its foundations, its name, and initial reputation as students are of a different group than those who come later. While I do admit I joined in S.P.A.M.'s third year of existence, I am proud to say I am an Alumni of four years and helped in the establishing the team we see today.
Sadly this year as a college mentor, academically and financially I was not able to attend any of our competitions. I am hoping next season will be better.
BTW: Winston Smith is NOT a penguin. His FIRST-SME id number is 8562. We registered him in 2000. Anyone remember those badges?