[archiver]

Posted by colleen - T190 at 03/17/2001 3:43 PM EST


Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science and WPI.


In Reply to: Aggravating things about the competition itself..
Posted by Gui Cavalcanti on 03/17/2001 1:28 PM EST:



i've seen you're problem..

i've been there... from BOTH sides...

and just because a team shows up with what you don't consider a 'qualified' robot does NOT mean they didn't put in effort during the 6 weeks or at the competition...

The point of FIRST: gracious professional.. teams like them are around, if nothing else, to make sure your GP is in check..

For 4 years of high school I was on a veteran team that could pretty much buy or make anything needed.. had all the engineering support.. machinery.. you name it.. We never came out of the 6 weeks with less than a 'qualified' robot..

My freshman year in high school, i went to BostonUniversity and joined up with a 2-yr team.. with NO machine shop, NO sponsor, and very little support..

We lacked material things, but had the enthusiam and EFFORT to make it happen.. I worked harder and put in more effort in those 6 weeks than I think I ever did..

And into the crate the robot went, it barely drove, it didn't pick up balls.. we hadn't even picked drivers because it had never actually moved under it's own power..

in NJ, we were dead last seed.. we got ourselves driving (Slooooowly).. but nonetheless moving.. and hey, one match we kept the #1 from scoring any points.. won best defensive round.. with not a 'qualified' robot..

Now I'm on 190... another 10 year team (similar to my first team).. with machines, hand tools, materials and support.. i'm back in those original shoes but can appreciate at least a little more that just because someone's robot doesn't work, is not a judgement on their effort put in but more likely the resources they have available.

The team is rookie.. and you should be proud of the fact that you were able to help them out so much and maybe give them a taste about what FIRST is about.. helping each other out.. giving each other that little push when we need it.. it's always been the motive of FIRST in a lot of ways, this year it is the entire basis of the game..

So instead of worrying that you didn't get enough recognition for the help you gave.. recognize your effort as exemplory (sp?) of the goals of FIRST.. and if you question their receiving the sportsmanship award.. consider asking them what they have done as a team.. maybe there's more to their team than just a robot.. I know when the judges came up to me (the alliance coach) and asked about teams that had been 'sportsmanlike' and teams that had shown true spirit on stage, etc.. i didn't suggest teams based on their robot abilities but rather how they worked on stage and the spirit they showed..

In Long Island, there were a couple teams that weren't really working well.. without hesitation many members of our teams helped them out to make them better.. we didn't do it to win awards or to look good.. we did it because we are a 10-year team and they are rookies.. we have an advantage it only pays to share.. and because you never know when someone is going to be your partner.. so if nothing else, you want to know that you helped them be able to get to the point where they can play..

In almost every match in longisland (9 of 11) we pushed a robot over the ramp.. we didn't complain either.. because those 10 points were valuable.. and we need those guys to be there.. at points, teams we pushed over the ramp were higher than us.. but our efforts didn't go unnoticed either.. and it all works out in the end.. that's simply the dynamic of the game..

Effort and ability are not synonomous (sp?)... and often times the effort counts for a bit more.. maybe that team had a little more of it than you originally though