Hello. Apologies if this runs long.
I am new to the CD forums and committed to joining a few days because of all of you. I have read the forums as a guest for over a year.I read this thread this morning before I left for errands and twirled it around along with the thread response of Tetraman in 'Your Best FIRST Experience'. 174 and 1230 had a wonderful time together, experiencing that magical kaleidescopic moment when everything centers and life is good. So I had the two threads mixing and mingling together.
My thoughts agree with Eugenia. The moderators are good, the red reps are good, constant vigilance is good but the beauty and the magic is you. We all mentor the teams: team mates, teachers, coaches, mentors, engineers, parents, sponsors, regional directors - the list goes on. We know the tensions in the shop and during competitions. F.I.R.S.T. has a natural rhythm: build, gearing up for competition, gearing down from competition, up, down, then nationals. Emotions are tucked in with the tools/parts in the carts that go back and forth through travel. And you do here what you naturally do in the shop and at the competitions. You mentor. New members and sponsors read past the initial flame and into the wealth of wisdom and humor that is written on the pages - counseling, disciplining, guiding. Never doubt that CD still does what it hopes to do - maybe a little differently than a few years ago and on a more complex scale, but it still works. Because of you. I read the new posts and the portal looking for names. I know that I will soon be laughing or learning, gaining wisdom and insight, and will have a good quote for the day. Because of you.
Jane Young
