[Ashley_05]

I love driving. This is my 8th year in FIRST (I started young) and my 4th year with a role in the drive team. This year I am controlling the arm. For me, the most stressful part of the entire competition is waiting. Once you've been qued, and you're waiting on stage. The 8-12 minutes that you stand around seems like a lifetime. You can't go anywhere; you can't do anything... except think. The climax for all the pressure is when your team is announced and then the opposing alliance is announced. It's that moment of looking in the opposing drivers eyes and knowing one of you are about to win and you just hope it’s you.

This season so far, the most stressful moment that I had to deal with was at FLRC. I was standing in Red 1 with the rest of my drive team and across the field in Blue 3 was our sister team, 237. It was the quarterfinals, match 1, and all I could think about is playing fair. We had traveled to FLRC with Watertown (237) and I, personally, had become pretty close with several members of the team. Both alliances had been announced and the countdown to Autonomous Mode had begun. I looked at Scott (237), we saluted each other, and the game began. In the end, Alliance #1 moved on into the semis. Team 38 was able to stand along side 237 and cheer them on.

The stress that drivers feel when they know that they can perform well only adds to the game. The relief and joy that is felt after working hard is absolutely amazing. Even when you perform at the top of your game, sometimes it just isn't enough. In the case when you are eliminated from the game, the long walk back to your pit is often ended with a large reception from your team. This is what it's about. Your team knows that you did well and they are proud of you. When the stress builds up, and a sudden elimination takes you from the game... sometimes you want to cry. But when you get back to your pit, and your mentor comes up to you with tears in his eyes, saying, "Congratulations! Well done! I couldn't be more proud of you!.... YEAH TOAST!" it just makes you smile.

From Team 38, I wish all of you the best of luck. Take in the memories that are created at the competitions. Feel the stress, feel the pressure, act upon it and succeed. Your time will come to show the world what you are made of. Take this opportunity and don’t hold back. You will quickly move from a student to a mentor and be that mentor that will never be forgotten.