This was my first year as a mentor/parent, so from the perspective of a newbie:
When we got the 'game plan' in Jan, we had to figure out what our small team could/couldn't do - we knew we couldn't get the camera and a shooting device working in 6 weeks, but we could figure out a way to pick up balls..we decided to make ours short so we wouldn't be tipped over.
I thought all the teams built something that they should be proud of - some teams had to build a defensive robot as that's the skill set they have.
I walked out of the Family Arena every day just pumped with energy - how could you not with teams like the Kinigits? (for those who weren't there, think Monty Python's Holy Grail, complete with fuzzy bunny strapped to the top of the robot, and the cast from the movie, complete with a dedicated coconut clapper) Or the rookie team next to us - 1776, wearing the George Washington wigs (don't those itch?) Anyway, we had an awesome time, our kids stuck to the game plan, the robot worked exactly as planned.
Can't wait for next year. I see how you can get addicted to FIRST.
DeAnnaC