Why do you love FIRST?

[dddriveman]

Please tell me why you love FIRST.

I love first because i come from a suburb of a large population of white people. FIRST has given me a chance to go into the city and make new friends of a differnt race, and discover new information about othe rhighschools. I come from a team composed of about 19 highschools and we meet about 3 times a week fo about 6 hours and we build and talk and strengthen our friendships. I believe that first has give n me a wonderfull chance to experience something that I might never have. I owe much to FIRSt and plan being a mentor when i graduate.

[WakeZero]

I love FIRST because it makes the dreams of tomorrow seem so much closer.

[Greg Perkins]

i love first cause it gives me a chance to express my design side of my personality. it also brought me to my sweet love in my life.

[Amanda Morrison]

I love FIRST because it gives incredible opportunities to kids who wouldn't have those options.

[Keith Chester]

I love first because of the late nights, the unparralleled stress, the excitement, the emotion. Because of the close defeats, the close victories. Because of the pride, the sense of accomplishment, the feeling of embettering the world. But most of all, because of you, the other teams.

[Mike Schroeder]

Originally posted by Amanda Morrison
I love FIRST because it gives incredible opportunities to kids who wouldn't have those options.

what she said

[Ashley Weed]

I Love FIRST for the never ending educational excitement.... always something new to learn, or to make something even more efficient. I Love FIRST, because even as a high school kid you have opportunities to spread the love of science and technology to your younger peers. I Love FIRST, because it has brought me to a major I am thrilled about, and a career that will advance society. Most of all, I Love FIRST for the 'unknown factor' there is always something from an unbeliveable match to an unbelieveable playing field..... and even moreso the people.

[Aignam]

I love FIRST because there is something for everyone.

[roboticscom13]

I love FIRST because the atmosphere is always positive, even if your team is constantly failing. I also love it because it is something that is one of a kind and not many people get to use the big machinery that i use as a student in High School. It gives the people great pride in just participating. Along the way i have met many many new friends who are truly awesome people that i would never have met if not for FIRST. The experiences will last with all of us for the rest of our lives and thats when you know that you're in something special.

[Alaina]

I just plain love FIRST...it's hard to explain why...One major factor would have to be the people I meet. I mean, my current team is small. But I just know there are literally thousands of other students with the exact same interests as me. I finally have friends, it's still a new concept to me, but I love it.

[FotoPlasma]

I love FIRST because it has made me a better person that I would have been, otherwise. FIRST gave me an outlet (or an inlet, if you will) for me to focus my technical interests. Without FIRST, I would most likely have spent much of the past three years playing video games, instead of pursuing technical endeavors. I will forever be grateful for all that it has done for me, and will continue to try to help it to have the same kind of effect on newcomers.

Also, I too would have to say that I love FIRST because of the people whom I have met, through my involvement. I have made friends with people all over the US, from sea to shining sea.

It boils down to two things: The people I've met, and the things I've learned.

[Joe Lambie]

Why do I love FIRST?

I love FIRST for both reasons said and unsaid. FIRST has taught me about trials and tribulations. How to deal with the stresses of defeat and feeling of accomplishing something someone may have said cant be done. I love it because FIRST has the ability to bring anyone, any group, anything together and meld into the team from hell or the team from heaven, and along the way we all still become friends. FIRST teaches you that not everything can be perfect, but when they don't, hope can be your savior. I love the feeling of being out on that field, and having everyone see you do something they have never seen before, or seeing that other team accomplish something unthinkable.

The thing I love the most about FIRST though.... The relationships formed. Without FIRST I wouldn't know of Dean Kamen, or have met him. I wouldn't have met Woodie Flowers, or Andy Baker, or my wonderful girlfriend Katie Reynolds. The relationships are probably the single most wonderful thing about FIRST. I just hope I can continue to meet more new people every year and everywhere, especially cause I'm kind of a shy person.

[generalbrando]

These are a few of my favorite things:

Working with friends until the AM and having one ask "copper's conductive, right?"

Leading a group of half blinded people into the light.

Showing up at the competition and completely blowing the minds of the rookie members.

Having the quiest, old head master of the school shout in amazement of what is possible in 6 weeks.

Learning more and more about myself everyday.

Chiefdelphi

Helping other teams in or out of competition and seeing them being equally gracious.

Collecting buttons and other hand outs.

The chill I get now when I hear the little "Charge" tune.

Screaming at the top of my lungs, cheering on the team that just beat us.

Knowing that even though the 6 weeks almost killed us all, we're better for it.

And of course: The inspiring words of Dean Kamen

Just a few of the reasons I LOVE FIRST.

[Marygrace]

What isn't there to love about FIRST?

[Alaina]

Originally posted by generalbrando

The chill I get now when I hear the little "Charge" tune.

Oh my gosh! You get the chill too?! I thought it was just me!