Quote:
Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery
I forgot one thing I had planned to put in my previous post, which basically echoes the post before this.
What another team accomplished doesn't change what you've accomplished. Just because another team did something incredible and outstanding, it doesn't mean what you did isn't incredible or outstanding. Even if you don't win the Chairman's, it doesn't mean what you did is any less impressive. You shouldn't be any less proud of the effort you put in because of what another team did.
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Sean brings up a great point here. Although it seems obvious, it isn't always internalized. When I was with FRC103 I was fortunate enough to play a role that helped lead to a Championship Chairman's Award. When I left Palisades HS for Lower Merion and founded FRC1712, in no way, shape or form did I say anything to anyone about the desire to "win" a Chairman's Award.
HOWEVER, I have stated from the beginning that my one non-negotiable item, as long as I'm a part of FRC1712, is that the team must always document, submit a CA entry, participate in the interview process, and make earnest efforts to improve year-to-year based on feedback. That effort has led to much growth and many accomplishments in Lower Merion and, in different ways, I'm just as proud of our students, mentors and overall team here as I was the day
this photo was taken of 103. (yikes, did I really have that much hair?)
Will 1712 ever "win" a Chairman's Award? I have no idea. Will 1712 ever stop trying to better the community and students through the CA process? Not while I'm a part of this team it won't. I've seen too much growth in two totally different communities to ever say "we're not doing that anymore." I refuse to part of a team that "only" builds a robot and tries to win a game on the field (although standing on Einstein someday with that trophy would be cool, too
).
In my estimation if a team chooses not to "do this" because it doesn't think it can win, it's TOTALLY missing the point and value in the process. I've been wrong lots before, but that's the way I see it.