[JaneYoung]

I agree that the final destination is the game reveal at the FRC Kick-Off, but yesterday's Kick-Off was a very special journey to that destination. (I was reminded of just that by a couple of rookies on a 2nd year team.) We can all complain about the length of it but, in reality, how often do we get to spend time listening to these role models for FIRST, speak at a FIRST event? Usually, I get to hear some of them 2 times a year: at Kick-Off and at the Championship event. As for the couch chat, I thought that was excellent, just excellent. It provided insight and inspiration and will be something that many of us can return to for additional insight. As far as the time element - it is a little difficult and perhaps, trying, to sit for that long but in the bigger picture, does it matter? If all you want is the game reveal, you'll get it soon enough.

Regarding what Dean Kamen had to say - perhaps now is a good time to go back and reflect on what he was encouraged not to say - now that we know the game and are learning the rules.

I watched the movie, Coach Carter, last night. It is about a basketball coach who locked the team out of the gym and cancelled all games until they got their GPA up, meeting the requirements of the contract that each of them signed. Yesterday's sad news regarding FRC 3125's accident made it a difficult night for me, emotionally. I was also thinking about the speeches and their wisdom and insight and wanted to watch a movie that would help and encourage me. In the movie, a student was struggling and Coach Carter kept asking him what his deepest fear was. Toward the end of the movie, this was the quote that best defined his fear:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone, and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Miriam Williamson

We can be filled with shoulds, can'ts, why didn't theys, and we can find all kinds of support to back us up in our criticism. We can also find positive and productive ways to make suggestions, if they merit our time and effort.

Good luck in the 2010 FRC season.
Jane