A number of people have kindly informed me that if I were to return to this thread in five years or so, that I would be shocked to read what I have written here, and will no doubt shake my grizzled old head at what a fool I used to be. This remains to be seen. The truth or untruth of this assertion notwithstanding, I find it rather insulting on a few levels:
1) It implies, or rather states, that because I am but 18 years old, I am thoughtless and ill informed.
2) It implies/states that what thoughts I do have are shallow, indistinct, and foolish.
3) It implies/states that people who are 23 years old are obviously much more mature/well-informed/thoughtful than I am.
I contend that I have given this particular subject a
lot of thought in the last several years, and that having nearly completed thirteen years of public schooling (including kindergarten), I am as well informed on the topic as anyone else.
I understand that not everyone meant this comment in this manner; you were merely offering some perspective. I can appreciate this. However, I do not need to be reminded that opinions sometimes change. Beyond that, I cannot speak for my future self, only for my present self, and I think my present self is right on this matter.
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Originally Posted by RogerR
if you read this thread, you'll probably note that a great many mentors, teachers, and veterans are saying more or less the same thing. this seems to suggest a trend.
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The trend is obvious: everyone older than me thinks exactly alike.
Given how little you seem to think of my intellect, I am not surprised that you would try to put this particular fallacy over on me.
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Originally Posted by RogerR
everytime you post on here under a screen-name that has your team name or number, or wear you team shirt (or some other team paraphernalia), for better or worse, you are representing your team, and therefore your school and your sponsors. as unfair as it is, it would be niave to assume otherwise. this goes doubly so for someone who has "leadership" in their title.
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It is true, I cannot completely rid myself of associations with my school (or Aurora Flight Sciences or Falls Church Community Television) within the context of FIRST. I never said that I can, and I have no particular desire to. What I said was that my team comes first. Being a leader of my team only makes me take that even more seriously. I repeat: it was my team, not my teachers, who designed and built our robot.
Speaking of building robots: I can't speak for the rest of my team, but I do FIRST because it is fun and allows me to better myself. I believe Dean Kamen's goal to "change the culture" is a noble one, and I fully support it. I certainly do what I can to recruit kids to the program, but I don't participate in FIRST with the express purpose of changing the world. To imply that this (or any other way) is the only legitimate way to participate is incredibly arrogant.
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Originally Posted by RogerR
while its true that no-one on this earth always knows whats best for you, i'd expect that your parents are gonna be right more than any other source (including yourself). they've been around a lot longer than you, and (with a few exceptions) they know you as well as, if not better than, yourself. they did raise you, after all. they've known you all your life. looking back on my life so far, my parents track record is alot better than mine.
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So my parents, both accomplished professionals, should consult their respective parents before they do anything and abide by their decisions? If not, then at what age were they allowed to start ignoring them? At what age am I allowed to start ignoring my parents? Obviously, little kids need significant guidance from their parents, but why should I have to wait until the seemingly magic age of 23 (or perhaps you had some other age in mind?) before I'm allowed to think for myself? I've said it before, and I'll say it again: by the time you are sixteen or so years old, you really don't need to be led around by hand.
As for how my parents know me better than anybody: well, I've known me all my life, too, and unless my parents can somehow read my mind, I've known myself a lot better than anyone can possibly know another person.
Sure, my parents make a lot of right decisions, but they aren't right all the time. Also, part of the way they've learned how to make right decisions is by making wrong decisions. One reason I like my parents as much as I do is that they give me enough room to screw up now and again.
Finally, if my state and local taxpayers are worried about wasting their money on me any more than on anyone else, they shouldn't be. I take what I can from my classes. What the taxpayers should be worried about is that there is so little being given.