The posts in this thread have meant a lot to me as a student team leader. I've noticed that this year, team 343 has had a LOT more student involvement than in the past. Despite having fewer students on the actual team itself, the level of their involvement was outstanding. So many factors of this years robot were designed, built and improved by Metal-In-Motion students.
A few years ago... I began to ponder across the meaning of FIRST. Did our team really have it? After winning the very first National Engineering Inspiration award I began to look deeper. I asked myself so many questions like "Are our engineers doing too much work on the robot?" (Nobody quickly answered my question with a NO.) "Are the students getting the true value of the educational aspect of FIRST" I analyzed my thoughts and feelings on many different parts of our team. "What did this all mean to me?" "Since I don't want to be an engineer, does that leave me at fault for not letting this experience change my mind?" ABSOLUTELY NOT... The memories of the team will forever be with me... The real life lessons I've gotten will continue to be a part of who I am, and who I'll become. "What is the significance in this post?" It's to understand that the importance of FIRST lies within the hands of the leaders of every team. As we go through life we understand that everyone is different. Therefore, every team has a different approach to designing a machine to perform the tasks we're given. Some teams emphasize the hands on approach of student participation. Other's stand by and watch as the engineers do the work. I've found over the past year that I've answered my own questions. "Absolutely not. The engineers don't do too much work on our robot." I've found that the most important thing is to have a good mixture of both student design and engineering inspiration. (honestly) I truly believe that our engineers have provided us the basis of what this FIRST is all about. That students and engineers can work TOGETHER as a team. I truly believe that students need to be taught how to do something before they participate in a long trial and error runoff. From AutodeskInventor creations to tapping parts... students can value the participation of engineers as long as it's in the right way. But yes... Life is unfair. FIRST is Life. After using the transitive property of algebra applied to simple basics. We understand that sometimes... FIRST can be unfair. But as long as YOU value the educational aspects.. I suppose that's the important thing... It all starts with one!
