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Is It Possible to Take FIRST too seriously?
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yes.
While I agree with most people there is defiantly an addictive quality to FIRST, and there can be many worse things in life, I also believe that there are quite a few people who take it too seriously. I believe that these people mostly fall into 3 categories.
*People who's priorities are screwed up - When FIRST is the only thing in your life that you care about, or you put it above everything else. While FIRST is a great program there is much more to life then it. People should have a balance of activities they are involved while still keeping site of what is important. Things like family and school are 2 examples of those things which must come above FIRST ALWAYS. Remember that while FIRST may expose you to Engineering you still need a diploma (High School and College) to actually be an engineer or whatever you major in.
*People who have lost the focus - There are people who are way to concerned with specific elements of the program to the extent of unhealthiness. FIRST is a program designed to expose students to different fields in science and technology. While there are many elements of the program, that still remains the overall goal. If your goal is to do nothing but collect trophies, and gain recognition for your involvement I urge you to re-evaluate why you are involved with the program.
*People who use/abuse FIRST - The program is great for opening up opportunities, and connections for people, both on the team level and individually. This is unique to FIRST in which it gives participants the ability to interact with previously un-reachable people and organizations. While that is a great side effect of the program there are people who abuse this situation. Being involved in FIRST for the sole purpose to get better jobs and meet people for the intent of "name dropping" in the future is unacceptable. This does not go to say that if you have the right perspective on the program and good things happen as a result it is bad, but unfortunately there are those with nothing but this in mind.
Just like in any situation there is no black and white answer or scenario which can apply to every person. People need to decide for themselves what their goals and level of involvement is, hopefully thinking carefully about their decisions. One of the best things I can advise, especially for mentors, on this was told to me by Paul Kloberg, "Is what I am doing right now helping the kids in the program or the program itself?" This is something I always as myself before I make a FIRST decision and I think it has served me well so far.
Overall I think that most people in FIRST have the right idea and are doing things for the right purpose of having fun and advancing science and technology fields. Just think from time to time and you will be fine.