Thread: why why why...?
View Single Post
  #35   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-06-2002, 22:13
archiver archiver is offline
Forum Archival System
#0047 (ChiefDelphi)
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Pontiac, MI
Posts: 21,214
archiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond reputearchiver has a reputation beyond repute
Here's mine

Posted by Andy Baker at 1/3/2001 11:59 PM EST


Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.


In Reply to: why why why...?
Posted by Ken Leung on 12/30/2000 10:05 PM EST:



I graduated from U of Evansville in December of '91, and started working at Delco Electronics in January of '92. The first day I walked into my cubicle, I had to step over a tote full of parts and a bucket of corn... my cube-mate (who, by the way, is my current boss!) was making some 'toy' to that was supposed to compete against other 'toys'.

Over the years, I watched as many engineers, skilled tradesmen, students, and teachers made robots for this silly competition called US FIRST. I didn't want to get involved, because I was more interested in going to concerts, playing sports, and spending my new-found wealth of a single engineer.

I finally got involved in '98, and my main reason was not to inspire students... it was to compete. I was done with sports and wanted to compete with my head against the other engineers in the US.

Within a few months my attitude changed... I was humbled by the eagerness and intelligence of our students. There was one time during that first year that a freshman on our team had to show me how to set up a particular operation on the lathe. That moment sticks in my mind and I remember that I can learn from these students.

Now, my focus is to inspire and push the students... I always try to get our students more chances to have authority on our team. Seeing our students go to MIT, get Kettering Scholarships, and get hired on my major corporations gives me more satisfaction that winning any matches or competitions.

As for the competitions, I do still enjoy competing... but I've learned that FIRST is much more than winning a two minute match. It's about people sharing a love of learning... It's about giving kids a chance to prove themselves on a playing field that doesn't require then to run a sub-5:00 mile or bench press 300 pounds.

I'm still kinda skirting Ken's question of Why, why, why. I suppose that DrJoe summed it up the best... I just love it. I love working with our team and making a robot work. I love the way our team comes together and depends on each other by the end of a competition. I love meeting and talking to fellow FIRSTers around the country.

There, enough for now.

Andy B.


__________________
This message was archived from an earlier forum system. Some information may have been left out. Start new discussion in the current forums, and refer back to these threads when necessary.