[Jaine Perotti]

I think that this quote represents a HUGE part of what FIRST is all about.

What is the purpose of a career?
The answer is multifold - one obvious aim is to provide some kind of beneficial service to the world. However, another function of a career is to benefit YOU, the employee, by giving you a sense of purpose.

What drives people to take a job? Some people take jobs (even if they don't like them) so that they can earn a living. Others take jobs that will bring them a sense of accomplishment in their lives. I too believe that the best type of career is one that brings a person happiness through their work.

In order to be happy, people need to be constantly challenged by something. I don't think that happiness can ever be achieved by overcoming ONE specific challenge in life. I don't believe in the pursuit of a solitary "Holy Grail", so to speak - I don't think that the achievement of a SINGLE momentous goal is truly capable of bringing you happiness for the rest of your life. The reason why I don't believe in a single "Holy Grail" is the fact that once you reach the top, you will become dissatisfied when you find that there are no more challenges left to overcome. The "denouement" will be boring and unsatisfactory, and you will wish for another challenge so that you can experience the "rush" of success once again. There is no central goal in life - life is a SERIES of goals that bring you happiness as you achieve them one by one.

In order to be a happy person, you need to continue to have goals. Your career should provide you with the challenges you need to keep you happy. Without careers (and their consequent goals) we would never experience the rewards yielded by success. According to Chateaubriand, the happiest people are those who view their work as their source of pleasure. Their work provides them with the series of challenges that brings happiness to their lives. If you find a career that you enjoy, life will be much more fulfilling and enjoyable.

In my view, FIRST is not merely a tool for inspiring young people to pursue careers in science and technology. FIRST is about guiding kids to find out where their future lies. Through FIRST, students are given the opportunity to find out what type of a career will make them happy. Some students join FIRST and find out that the LAST thing they would want to do is become a scientist or an engineer! Does that mean that the purpose of FIRST is lost on them or that FIRST has failed? Absolutely not! FIRST has served that student by helping them explore different career options, and has given them an opportunity to learn more about themselves. FIRST has created animators, web designers, business people, writers, journalists, and artists. All of these people have found their niche through FIRST.

Kudos to FIRST for endorsing this philosophy. It has changed the lives of many.

-- Jaine