[Anne Lam]

True FIRST-ers expect changes every year, and FIRST's qualifications to register for the Nats does not at all reflect any alteration or compromise in its mission to educate and inspire students in the fields science and technology. It's true that this year it will be harder for many teams to partake in the championship event, but this way I believe FIRST is giving a pat on the back and sort of a 'reward' for teams that did well in past and current regionals. Besides, as FIRST has stated in it's website, "It is the process rather than product or performance that is at the core of what makes FIRST unique." We shouldn't look at the qualification process as FIRST favoring certain teams, they just needed to do what they had to do because the Nats were getting a little bit too big to handle. I should hope that returning teams will teach the rookies the philosophy of 'gracious professionalism', and thus eliminating mentalities of sabataging anyone in the pits. I support FIRST's method of limiting the number of teams to attend, even though I don't agree with it whole-heartedly. I mean it could be worse. Do the best you can in any regional you decide to go to if you are not qualilified to go to the nats this year, and take advantage of all learning opportunities that comes. Isn't that more important than competing? Anyway those are just my own personal thoughts.