[JaneYoung]

There's always a lot of team dynamics involved in running a FRC team. That's part of the fun of it and part of the challenge.

Being one of the consistently successful teams who are consistently labeled as being: elite, the best, powerhouse, and dominant - is flattering, truthful, and perhaps, burdensome. For students who enter a team that has such a high standard and such a remarkable reputation (not just in their community, but in the FIRST community), must create challenges for that team. Keeping it fresh, striving, understanding that those who have gone before have helped build up the strength of the reputation and those that follow, continue to shore it up and build on it - or that is the hope.

In my opinion, that takes a lot of work. A lot of effort on the part of the mentors and the veteran students - to impart the values, the heritage, the legacy - and the respect of and for the team. Just as in any team, not everyone gets that at the same time. Some of the team dynamics and challenges are different and some are the same, including the awesomeness, talent, and enthusiasm found in the students in every FRC team.

Managing success can be as challenging as overcoming failure. Both take work, effort, and commitment. We should never shortchange these teams who serve as role models and will help shape the future of FIRST, because of our own petty jealousies or narrowed thinking.

Jane