[archiver]

Posted by Dan, Student on team #10, BSM, from Benilde-St. Margaret's and Banner Engineering.

Posted on 4/28/99 7:41 PM MST


In Reply to: learning experience posted by Sean Kim on 4/28/99 4:59 PM MST:



There IS a rule that limits the participation of experts, it is in the acronym of FIRST. Having an engineer do your animation is not nearly as inspiring as doing it yourself.
Teams that have engineers do it gain nothing except a block of acrylic (trophy) at most. When you do it yourself you gain experience and you become inspired. Your product may not be given the same recognition as an engineer-made one, but you did not make it just for recognition.
If you intend to win FIRST or the animation contest you will need to be lucky. Nothing is clear cut. If you do FIRST to win, you're missing the point. Because not only is it unlikely that you will win, but it still takes a lot of luck even if you're very good.
For those reasons it should be obvious that the competition is with yourself. Learn, have fun, focus on the real prizes and NO ONE CAN STOP YOU. The game of education has perfect rules, no luck required, everyone can win. FIRST is a ton more satisfying if you can look past the winning part.
Ok, that being said winning is a ton of fun and can do some inspiring too, but it should just be a consequence of focusing on the real goals that Dean keeps telling us about.
:-Dan
PS sorry if I sound preachy, I really feel strongly about this cause I want to see FIRST work.

: And you mentioned 'learning experience.'
: Is it true that some schools have their animation DONE by the engineers?
: I mean...I know we don't do that. I know Gunn (Daniel and Kyle) doesn't do that, right?
: I find this very frustrating. They should have some kind of rule that includes regulations on the participation of experts.