[archiver]

Posted by nick237 at 02/23/2001 6:59 PM EST


Engineer on team #237, sie h2o bots, from Watertown high school ct and sieman co.



Well the bots done and gone, its not finished but its gone. This year I thought we would be better off than last year as we seemed to have more skilled help. several new faces who claimed to be Engineers and Tool makers appeared at our kick off, they pledged their time and skill to our team because they herd so much about the program and how well the team did last year.
As the kit arrived and the design was cemented in stone the task of building began. Each night we ganged to gether and the work progressed but by the third week the design changed to include more complex ideas that of course took more time. By the fifth week it became evident that some of the new designs were more complex and would obstuct some of the more basic ideas.
With five days to go the dedicated few got fewer, and by the second day from the date of shipping it was down to two adults working around the clock. The two adults left on the team was a machine assembler and me, "im a Wedding Photographer". We did the best we could but im afraid it does not seem to be enough. Im sick and tired of broken promises where the dedication becomes a whim.
Last year and the year before it was the same, the same two people Nick and Steve left to do it all. we would love to use the students at three in the morning to mill some steel but thats when accidents happen when one is most tired, so to be safe we sent them home to get sleep. Im not complaining about student dedication as they were there for us but safety out weighed dedication.
What makes me so $@#$@#$@#$@# angry is you can bet your butt that the " Dedicated few " who were warm in their beds as Steve and I were working our selves to near exhaustion will want to be front and center on the stage for the fun and games. As far as im concerned they can all go to hell.
This will be my last year with FIRST fo several reasons. My oldest son will graduate this year, we had no support from the school and the school system but mostly FIRST has taken the fun from the game. This year I am mentaly and physicaly exhausted, the last six weeks have taken their toll on my old bones but more than that the expectations and excitement has gone from my heart and soul.
I will try for the team to put on a good show, and I know the team will bust a nut to do their best as they are the best bunch of kids it has been my pleasure to work with.
nick 2 3 7.