[Daniel Morse]

This is a good article and it illustrates a good point. Dean Kamen has pointed it out time and time again, America simply needs more scientists and engineers in order to stay competitive on a global scale. Science and engineering have gotten this country to where it is. The problem is that we are now resting on our laurels, a victim of our own industrial success. As India and China begin their own industrial revolution, they are positioning themselves for a big boost to their standard of living and national success. If America does not show the initiative to stay afloat in this shift of economic balance, we may lose our balance, and lose the ability to hold on to our success. That said, FIRST is one answer to this problem. More governmental support of FIRST will allow kids to see engineering and science in a new light, as an interesting and dynamic field, and not just one of those careers that their math or science teachers mention once in awhile in class. As the student president this season, I made it my number one goal to teach younger students as much as possible in order to show them how fun the design and manufacturing process can be. The more vocal FIRST people become, the harder it is to ignore our requests. However; in my opinion, FIRST is not the only answer to this problem. While I am not claiming to have all the answers, I know that there is more than one way to approach a problem, and I am sure that other programs can be developed to emphasize science and engineering in a different (fun) way in order to entice more people to become scientists and engineers. I know that many activities of this type exist in schools; however, what I am saying is, for example, to open up that normally ultra stereotyped math team (at least in my school) to people other than math and science "nerds" (of which I am one) and find a way to show kids that may not be interested in math that it can actually be fun. This is what I think can help get our country back into the position that it has enjoyed for so many years. The students who have been guided toward engineering by FIRST are living proof that this idea can work, and it is up to us to spread the word and act as the catalyst to get more of these types of programs started.