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why why why...?

Posted by Ken Leung at 12/30/2000 10:05 PM EST


Student on team #192, Gunn Robotics Team, from Henry M. Gunn Senior High School.



As the competition is about to begin, and many speculation about what the game is about, I also would like to ask everyone a question.

Why did everyone get involved in this competition? Was it because of friends, teachers, demonstrations, magazines, internet, dreams, goals...etc?

I believe this is the right time to question ourselves why we are in the competition in the first place.
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My story!!!! hehe :-)

Posted by colleen at 12/30/2000 10:42 PM EST


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


In Reply to: why why why...?
Posted by Ken Leung on 12/30/2000 10:05 PM EST:



My story: (similar as that given in my speech at my teams' FIRST banquet the year I graduate hs)

When I was in 8th grade, I had NO clue what I wanted to be.. doctor, teacher, lawyer... My brother was a freshman.. way into computers and all that 'geeky' stuff. As January rolled around, he was out til midnight/1am every night.. gone all day on weekends.. I was loving it.. but I began to wonder.. Word was he was down at Nypro doing something called US FIRST.. some engineering thing. I didn't even know what an 'engineer' was outside of conducting a train... and anyone who knows my brother and what a barrel of information he is:
'What do you do down at Nypro?'
'Stuff' was always his reply.

So I picked up the dictionary, looked up engineering and tried like crazy to figure out what it was. Still clueless, I laughed at my mom when she got up at 5am one wintery March Saturday to drive to New Hampshire to catch the seeding matches for the Clinton team before the competition started (yes.. 1995.. the first year nationals were large enough to move to Disney.. but the regional was still small enough to run seeding and competition in ONE DAY!).

My dad had said he'd head down a little later to watch what was labelled the 'competition' part of the afternoon. Little did I know I was to be dragged along. My dad decided he didn't want to make the hour trek alone and decided to invoke his parental right to make me go. I pouted the whole way there like 12-year-old girls do and dreaded the afternoon I was in for. Bunch of my brother's friends hanging out doing Star Wars things with R2D2 and like sabers and whatnot..

I never thought walking into a high school gym would change my life..

The place was packed and we snuck in the back door as someone was leaving cause they weren't letting anymore people in. Teams of kids were screaming and cheering and out on the field were these... things... bopping balls over a football field goal.. it was crazy.. it was amazing..

I knew that instant it was for me...

I jumped up into the stands and cheered along.. I looked around me and thought..'all these kids took their brains and their ideas and their hands and abilities and made this... wow.. and I can do this too!'

March to October never seemed to take so long... the summer couldn't fly by fast enough.. At school.. I bragged about this.. I told all my friends.. they thought I was crazy... They showed a video to try to get people in the school interested and I got even more antsy than ever...

The greatest part of it all... in 1995, the first year of nationals, my team had decided no freshman would travel to Florida.. it would be a learning kind of year.. make sure they are there for the right reasons.. So when I hopped on the wagon in 1996, we all assumed it would be the same deal.. no freshman to Florida.. I was there EVERY day.. I thought, strategized, painted, designed, mocked up, anything and everything they would let me do... I was told a thousand times by other teammates.. 'don't waste your time, you won't go to Florida.. freshman don't go..'.. but I never thought of it a waste of my time.. so I just said 'oh well' and continued on..

And I made it to Florida that year.. as a backup driver nonetheless... and I knew I had made it there cause I earned my spot.. and did enough to prove that freshman did belong at nationals too..

Long story short: Someone tries to drag me somewhere I don't want to go.. or introduce me to something new.. I keep my mind open.. you never know what wonderful world you can be exposed to..

:-) :-) see y'all at kickoff.. so begins year #6!!
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Re: why why why...?

Posted by Andy Grady at 12/31/2000 12:14 AM EST


Other on team #126, Gael Force, from Clinton High School and Nypro Inc..


In Reply to: why why why...?
Posted by Ken Leung on 12/30/2000 10:05 PM EST:



Well my story is probably a very common one, however im bored so I'd like to tell it anyway. I was a freshman in high school in 1995. I was a little pipsqueak of a human (still am!). Now those of you who know me, know how competitive I am. I would have loved to have played high school football or hockey, but my size pretty much prevented that. (see laws of physics...little andy + big linebacker = mangled body). So I looked around for an alternative. At that time Clinton High and Nypro was a very decorated team, in the short lifespan of FIRST, thus making the team fairly famous in the town. So I figured, hey I love workin with my hands, and those robot things always seemed cool, so I joined the team. Though I wasn't heavily involved, I stuck with it. After seeing my first ever competition in Memorial High School in Manchester, I was hooked. I am now goin into year 7, and everytime I go to a competition, I still get that same rush that I did at the very first one I went to. Thats why I keep commin back.
cya,
Andy Grady =)


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i know why

Posted by Jon at 12/31/2000 3:49 AM EST


Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from Mass Academy of Math and Science and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.


In Reply to: why why why...?
Posted by Ken Leung on 12/30/2000 10:05 PM EST:



As juniors in high school, we were presented with the opportunity to join something really special. We were approached to form a FIRST Team. A NASA team from JSC showed us the way, they showed us what they had built, we saw the competition tapes and we were hooked. We fancied ourselves robot builders due to our experiences with Texas BEST and Rice University Robotics but we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into...

Neither did any of our teachers or engineer mentors.

We did a lot of learning senior year as rookies, we had a lot of fun and I knew that I had to continue doing it. I did a lot of odd jobs on my team, I spent a lot of time doing animation and cad work, but occasionally machined something here or there or worked with the budget.

When i looked for a college, I knew a FIRST team was one of my requirements and so I ended up at WPI. Now Team 190 has gone through many iterations in these ten years and I'm proud to say that this will be my third competition as a WPI Engineer.

I'm now an Executive Officer on the team having previously handled animation, rules, and scouting duties. I have a lot of other committments as a college student and member of other clubs on campus but I have a special place for FIRST and i'm getting really giddy now that its only Five Days Away.

Maybe they'll give us flying targets....
We'll know in five

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Re: why why why...?

Posted by Justin at 12/31/2000 11:18 AM EST


Other on team Blue Lightning Alumni Association from RWU sponsored by FIRST-A-holics Anonymous.


In Reply to: why why why...?
Posted by Ken Leung on 12/30/2000 10:05 PM EST:



Why FIRST,

It's a very intriguing question. I learned of FIRST through my mom's avid reading of the NH papers. I've always been all about technology, taking things apart (though not always getting them back together) for the heck of it that type of thing. FIRST was definetly something wanted to do. Once I got to HS I hooked up with a kid who had been on the team the year before me and he took me to a few of the meetings. Once I really became aware of what this was I recruited my best friend, Tom, and we've been doing it ever since. FIRST was/is the one place in my life, more then any other, that I feel I really fit in...ppl don't look at you funny for being a geek/techie...because they all are. Prior to FIRST I had never had that kind of place. I think as anyone who's done FIRST knows once ur hooked you're hooked. I keep going back for the competitions (you never _truly_ expirence FIRST until you go to one). I go back for the people the ppl I've met through FIRST are some of the greatest ppl I know...both peers and mentors. I also keep going back for that emotional feeling that you get when the field is unvailed or Dean/Wooide steps up to the microphone...it's like all the hair our your back is standing up but you're teary eyed @ the same time. FIRST has given me so many opprotunities I _would never have had_...heck I got to shake hands w/NASA Administrator Dan Goldin (and if u think that wasn't a big deal for me ask those who know me ;-) Why do I do FIRST?? _Because there is simply NOTHING else like it on the planet_.

Hhehe okay so maybe I went overboard on the sharing things but it's FIRST.

KICK OFF!!!!

-Justin
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Re: why why why...?

Posted by Justin Stiltner at 12/31/2000 2:13 PM EST


Student on team #388, Epsilon, from Grundy High School and NASA, American Electric Power, Town of Grundy.


In Reply to: Re: why why why...?
Posted by Justin on 12/31/2000 11:18 AM EST:



: Why FIRST,

: It's a very intriguing question. I learned of FIRST through my mom's avid reading of the NH papers. I've always been all about technology, taking things apart (though not always getting them back together) for the heck of it that type of thing. FIRST was definetly something wanted to do. Once I got to HS I hooked up with a kid who had been on the team the year before me and he took me to a few of the meetings. Once I really became aware of what this was I recruited my best friend, Tom, and we've been doing it ever since. FIRST was/is the one place in my life, more then any other, that I feel I really fit in...ppl don't look at you funny for being a geek/techie...because they all are. Prior to FIRST I had never had that kind of place. I think as anyone who's done FIRST knows once ur hooked you're hooked. I keep going back for the competitions (you never _truly_ expirence FIRST until you go to one). I go back for the people the ppl I've met through FIRST are some of the greatest ppl I know...both peers and mentors. I also keep going back for that emotional feeling that you get when the field is unvailed or Dean/Wooide steps up to the microphone...it's like all the hair our your back is standing up but you're teary eyed @ the same time. FIRST has given me so many opprotunities I _would never have had_...heck I got to shake hands w/NASA Administrator Dan Goldin (and if u think that wasn't a big deal for me ask those who know me ;-) Why do I do FIRST?? _Because there is simply NOTHING else like it on the planet_.

: Hhehe okay so maybe I went overboard on the sharing things but it's FIRST.

: KICK OFF!!!!

: -Justin

I feel the same way about the fitting in thing.
my school is mostly 'preps' and I dont really fit in but in FIRST I am accepted for what I am. FIRST rocks!!!!

Justin Stiltner
Team #388
Epsilon
Grundy Va,

P.S. Justin I like your name hehe
P.P.S. Junk Yard Wars will be showing on TLC at 9:00 on wensday nights.


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My story, and be warned, it's really rather long

Posted by Lora Knepper at 1/1/2001 8:23 AM EST


Other on team #419, Rambots, from UMass Boston / Boston College High School and Seeking Sponsorship.


In Reply to: Re: why why why...?
Posted by Justin on 12/31/2000 11:18 AM EST:



'...I've always been all about technology, taking things apart (though not always getting them back together...FIRST was/is the one place in my life, more then any other, that I feel I really fit in...ppl don't look at you funny for being a geek/techie...because they all are. Prior to FIRST I had never had that kind of place. I think as anyone who's done FIRST knows once ur hooked you're hooked. I keep going back for the competitions (you never _truly_ expirence FIRST until you go to one). I go back for the people the ppl I've met through FIRST are some of the greatest ppl I know...both peers and mentors. I also keep going back for that emotional feeling that you get when the field is unvailed or Dean/Wooide steps up to the microphone...it's like all the hair our your back is standing up but you're teary eyed @ the same time. ...Because there is simply NOTHING else like it on the planet.'

Well, I read Justin's post and it was exactly what I was going to say. I've always been the outcast of society...too different to fit in, and never really caring what was the accepted 'norm'. I was a girl that shunned the world of Barbie and other dolls, hated the idea of anything frilly, pink, pastel or anything that had a bow, and instead found a passion for Legos, Transformers, Lincon Logs, the Discovery Channel, and making the dream car I plan to get some day a Dodge RAM pickup. Not to mention taking things apart to see how they work, and like Justin, not always mamaging to get them back together! ;o)

And since then it's only gotten worse ;o) I got to high school after a particulary rough (understatement) 3 years in middle school. I was hoping for a change, something to say that I could enjoy school again. My freshman english teacher told us daily that we needed to 'go out and find something to join, don't just waste our air in this school, become a part of it.' Then one day I heard an announcement for something called FIRST Robotics. Robots?!? I was facinated, and wanted to go but almost didn't because I thought it was for seniors only. I'm very glad I didn't make that mistake. From the first video, I was hooked...and I've never looked back.

It was rough on my team that first year. I was a freshman, and a girl...2 things that just mark you for problems in a world dominated by high school guys. I worked quietly in the backround, I was the webmaster and learned all I could, though I wanted a piece of the action on the bot itself. It was my coach, to whom I owe everything, that pushed me to try out for driver. I thought he was crazy, why should I humiliate myself by even trying?!? But I owed them my trip to nationals because I am from a low income family, so I thought that trying was the least I could do. So need I even say I was shocked when I was made driver?

Over the next three years, it has never really gotten any easier. I'm still the girl that enjoys hanging out with the guys more, dreams of that Dodge RAM, and got Legos for Christmas ). But (yes, I know I babbled to get to this point), in FIRST, I've found a place where I'm not the oddity...I'm the norm. And having a place to belong is something I've never had before, and people who understand me something so different it's hard for me to believe. All of my friends that have stuck by me are FIRST-ers except one...who I will get into FIRST if she goes to WPI ;o) (Kate, Colleen and Jon, beware!) I met the love of my life at Nationals (and I figure he'll read this b/c he haunts these boards as well ;o), and I've found a career in engineering that will let me explore who I am, and really enjoy what I'll do for the rest of my life.

FIRST is a feeling, a state of mind, and a gathering of incredible people. Without it, I'm afraid to think of where I would be today. I've warned college admissions staff that if they do not have a FIRST team, and do not want one, then they better just give me a rejection letter now. Though I love the engineering side, I know it's the people that keep me coming back. The people who believe in something so much that they brave 6-weeks without sleep, consider Mountain Dew one of the finest drinks mankind has ever created, and run around at competitions doing things that every other person on the planet would consider the sign of severe mental illness. )

For me, it has not come down to 'WHY'...but rather 'WHY WOULD I EVER STOP???' or even more correct, 'WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT FIRST??'

~ Lora
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Re: My story - it's really rather long - Got that right!

Posted by Robby at 1/1/2001 10:14 AM EST


Other on team #108, The SigmaC@Ts, from AIFL and Motorola.


In Reply to: My story, and be warned, it's really rather long
Posted by Lora Knepper on 1/1/2001 8:23 AM EST:



Wow. That was a heck of a story. Hmm... makes me feel kinda silly for the way I told mine...> Lora is so right. I have never had another experience like FIRST either. I keep going back for everything, the people, the competition, and yes, the hairs on my back and tears in my eyes when Dean and Woody approach the mic and unveil the new field. This year I'll probably be starting at it from that little gate they have to keep unknowns out, but I'll still be exited, and you know why?

Because of everything that Lora has mentioned, and everything that FIRST is and everything everyone says FIRST is. It is what you want it to be. It is never never land for all of us geeks who got picked on most of our lives, who enjoyed ::nods to Lora and Justin:: dissassembling mommy's favorite clock just to see how it works. We like to read Fantasy novels and admittedly watch the Sci-Fi and Comedy channels (before they were 'COOL'). We go because we finally are the norm.

But you know what else I think really keeps us coming? The fact that we know that our engineers and mentors were like us at one time: Geeks. And you know what? We are going to be where they are, becasue we are making the connetions now, something that all those kids who picked on us would never think to do. FIRST is gaining momentum and teams at incredible rates every year, and soon, we will be showing those kids how to do things that they labeled us as uncool for at one point.

As they say, everybody wants to rule the world. And yknow who's gonna do it? FIRSTers. Wait til we have a president in the white house who started surfin the net since 92, and joined FIRST in 94, who wears his FIRST-SME badge to every major meeting. Or famous actors who design thier own webpages and promote FIRST across the nation. Video game designers adding 'Special thanks to Dean and Woody - Thanks for FIRST guys!' in the end credits. People who spinoff companies and websites from FIRST. Look at sharingFIRST and Innovation FIRST.

FIRST will reach the point of world-wide known sports. The only difference? No strikes, No expesive tickets, just something everyone can have a hand in. That is the day when FIRST becomes the norm. When everyone is part of some FIRST team. When they know how much work went into these robots and put in thier share on thier team. When everyone looking in, can look out and say: 'Man I whish I had done this earlier. Now I know why they were cheering so hard at robots that merely lifted a ball into a goal.'

And we cheer like mad because of all the work we put into our robots. We know that we have lost sleep, lost contact with people outside of our team, and LITERALLY put sweat, blood, tears, and time over six weeks and at the competitions. That is why we cheer so hard. And that is why I think it is tough for anyone just walking by to jump on the bandwagon.

But they will, with time.

-Robby, aka Osh Kosh the unicycle Kid
'heh, finally got serious on y'all!'




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Osh...

Posted by Lora Knepper at 1/1/2001 2:12 PM EST


Other on team #419, Rambots, from UMass Boston / Boston College High School and Seeking Sponsorship.


In Reply to: Re: My story - it's really rather long - Got that right!
Posted by Robby on 1/1/2001 10:14 AM EST:



Hey Robbie...that was beauuuuutiful ) *sniffle sniffle* And I am serious on that....and I have to say, it was reading your story that made me post mine )

~ Lora
*** one of the FIRST geeks that plans to rule the world ***


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Awww, Lora.... Gawsh ::BLUSHES::

Posted by Robby at 1/1/2001 3:38 PM EST


Other on team #108, The SigmaC@Ts, from AIFL and Motorola.


In Reply to: Osh...
Posted by Lora Knepper on 1/1/2001 2:12 PM EST:



Heh, thanks. I tend to go a little off the deep end whenever I write anything, or do anything for that matter, no matter how serious it has to be. So reading yours just made me want to get a bit more serious.

Man, I still have to finish my new-years card. I'll do with it like my Christmas card - send it out a day late... B^P

-Robby


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Why not?!

Posted by Jessica Boucher at 12/31/2000 12:17 PM EST


Student on team #237, Sie-H2O-Bots, from Watertown High School and Eastern Awning Systems & The Siemon Company.


In Reply to: why why why...?
Posted by Ken Leung on 12/30/2000 10:05 PM EST:



: I believe this is the right time to question ourselves why we are in the competition in the first place.

Fair enough.
Wellll.....geez, I love telling this story ::grin::

Ok, rewind back to the end of my freshman year, sitting in Mr. Bob Svab's (pronounced like 'cotton swab') oh-so-boring History class, when the woods/technology teacher came in one day and pulled out a phamphlet about this little organization in NH that built robots that fought eachother (or at least thats what I got from the talk)....he asked the interested people to sign the list, and I did...along with 95% of the class.

I remember talking it over with my parents...and they really pushed me to go to that first meeting. And I quote: 'I dont really know what it is, but it sure sounds good.'

The first meeting.....maybe 5% of that 95% on that list showed, and I still remember some of the people that were on the team in the beginning that didn't stay...people that you would never associate robots with....and that first meeting sounded more like Battlebot than a FIRST-bot, but we didn't know any better.

So.....now, in our 3rd year, I look back and think, geez, I could have never done this and ended up with a resume weighted down by theatre and not much else, or I could have this....where I know so many people who are so multi-faceted like me, have such a good resume ::grin::, gone to places I would have never imagined me going (FL & NH, my 2 fav places)...and...

I would have never made such a connection in my head with all my different interests...my techie side and my hunger for news side and my performing side....it would have never happened without FIRST. And I will keep coming back to it, for I am forever indebted to it.

::sniffle:: Ok, Im done

-Jessica B, #237



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Re: Why not?! Well, since yer a thespian... ::LONG READ!::

Posted by Robby at 12/31/2000 2:08 PM EST


Other on team #108, The SigmaC@Ts, from AIFL and Motorola.


In Reply to: Why not?!
Posted by Jessica Boucher on 12/31/2000 12:17 PM EST:



I'm replying under this column cause, well, I'm an actor too, and I think its cool to see another who COULD have gone that route only but chose this one as well. Kudos to both our offbeat drama-hides, Jessica B^P.

Now, as for the story. Its a long one and your gears may go 'clak clak', so don't plug in that fuse just yet...

The very first time I heard the word 'Engineer' was when I was very little. Probably about 6 or 7. Being full of questions, and absolutely in love with (warning: 80's refs)legos, the Snorks, and red and green goo shooting guns, (not to mention Ghostbusters and TMNT) , I was always asking about making things, so this goes back to the legos. I think from the time I first asked that to the age of 12 I had a back and forth debate with my dad every now and then that went something like this:

'Hey dad, how do things get made?'
'Well, engineers come up with ideas then draw out the product then make it.'
'Really?'
'Yep'
'So engineers make chairs?'
'Yep, and tables too.'
'What about houses?'
'Those too. And things inside the houses.'
'Like TV's?'
'Yes.'
'What about twist-ties?'
'Those as well.'
'Even cushie toilet seats?'
'Yes.'
'Forks, knives, spoons, syrup bottles, markers, m&m bags, boxes, box tape, mouth tape, duct tape, duck hunt, duck decoys, decoy brothers, brothers, Brother games, video games, slime video games, slime, boogers???'
'Well, maybe not all that stuff.'
'Okay.'

And back to being Lionel I went. One more thing in my childhood that gives meaning to why I do what I do with FIRST: Robot movies. I always thought those were cool too. Expecially this one with audiences watching giant robots shoot thier fists at each other and those I asked about engineering too, I just forgot to add it to the list. Doh.

Now, fast forward to swampy Florida (from Neaw Yawk) where we moved to in 1992 and met Andrew. That went along these lines:

'Hello Andrew'
'Whoosh'
'Goodbye Andrew'

My family lucked out and moved to qaint little Coral Springs, where that nasty storm just passed us over. The town just wasnt worth it's time. But Computers and Acting were worth my time. As I grew older, my dad got me more and more into computers. Not only that, but the acting but bit me in New York after hearing that there were acting schools and that we would look for one in Florida. I won't go through that conversation. I've tortured you with enough of those.

Now, being into both Acting and Computers, this made me an offbeat outcast (like you couldnt tell!). I was always in a dream world, constantly dreaming of things, of ideas, creating products because I wanted to be an engineer on Endor, not some geek on Earth. So when middle school ended, it was only natural that I attended a High School far far away...

Dillard. And y'know what the best part was? It had both my loves - acting and hi-tech.

BORING BEN-STEINISH NARRATOR: Dillard High is a magnet school. It is a school that is attended not only by the native cultures but also by travellers from counties up to an hour's travel by thier yellow-tinted tansports. These travellers come to study various trades. At this particular, lets say, pool of outcasts, the outsiders could learn how to perform quality dramatic rituals, or learn to use and build tools which help 'compute' in forein tounges, known as See, AcheTee Emel, and others. They must choose between these two trades, sometimes the decision making preocess leading to migraines and motion sickness on their yellow vessels. Yet others choose to have a caste placed upon them and allow that to choose for them.

This caste he spake of was derived of my grades from middle school. Considering I daydreamed and wrote ideas down all throughout middleschool, I'm sure you can assume my grades... But what I lacked for in grades, I made up in sheer acting talent. I applied for both the tech and drama program and was accepted into drama. That was not enough for me, what with seeing a robot at the open house. Wait... um.. robot.. Oh yea!

It was mixed nuts, The first Dillard entry into FIRST in 95. My freshman year I wanted to join, but programming was required so I had to take that before anything else. I had 3 electives my freshman year. Two drama and one tech. Sophomore year I got my hands dirty with SigmaC@T 98, or more true to reality: The animation. I got stuck with that, but I wanted to know more about 3D animation and so I set out to learn it, eventually surpassing the Seniors knowledge about 3DS MAX. More on animation woes in later posts...

At nationals I became our team spirit when the spirit team gave up. I wouldnt. If you saw those blue signs that year about 'Be FIRST to make the wave', I was the nut who eventually got other teams to run with the signs and get it going with me. I also met a special someone on the trip who didnt become so until the next year. Ironically she was from a sister team of ours... man, I wonder if she's readin this...

The following year, I started to do more with the robot, but our animation suffered because of it. I couldnt properly manage the animation team and we did not succeed in creating an animation that year. That sucked. But, I became the first Junior on our team to make it to the Kickoff. And yes, I made it to Deans hours . Not only that, but I was selected as having the greatest team spirit and they used me in a Promo video for Motorla. Not to mention I was the lucky '8th man'. Because of the video, they sent me to Chicago, where I met my, uh, special someone, literally, by a draw of the cards.

And my senior year was the second year I got picked to go to the Kickoff (Deans house again, WOO!!!). I successfully created an animation which was noted to be one of the most detailed robots autodesk had seen in an animation during an animation presentation at nationals. I also created one of two winning I-Candy Awards for sharingFIRST, Gael force being the other. I became our driver that year, and got to hang out with my Chica in Chicago some more. And nationals was a week away where I got to see her again (Whoo hoo!!!).

Now, out of High School, I am attending the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale for Industrial Design. If you like more the visual and not so much the mechanical/mathematical part of engineering, you may want to look into that profession. It fits me to a tee. I wanted to get AIFL involved with a team this year, but because of time constraints (A Job, School, And Sleep will do that to ya) I couldnt.

Instead this year I will continue working with team 108, focusing on helping with the animation. But that is not all I will be doing that involves FIRST. I know that there is so much more that can be created with FIRST as a central theme, and it begins up here. Wait. No head to point at. Doh.

I'll be in here much more often now, so look for my postings of the projects here and at some new websites to come. Til Kickoff, or Nationals, or Regionals, Or wherever you see a short boy in a hawaiian shirt on a unicycle screaming 'The 80's ruled!'. Read my lips, no more story.

Wait, one last thing. Just wanna make my amiga in chi-town blush a last time by mentioning that I can't wait to see her again at Nats and Regionals. Oh, and I have my fingers crossed she'll pick UM. Pleeeeeeaaaasee... Oh please, oh please, oh please... okay. Stick a fuse in me, Im done.

-Robby

Hope you enjoyed my odd life story. I'd just like to thank all the little people for making it happen, especially my mom and dad, without whom I wouldnt be here tonight. Shoutouts go to Bird, Wolfboy, Shades, Anton, Erin, Dean, Woody, Raul(thanks fer 111, man!), Kate, Colleen, Nate, Pooh Bear, TMNT, Egon and Peter, All-Star, Gobo, Wembly, Boober, Mokey(Eghads, please dont tell me I forgot one of thier names!!!), and Red. Oh, and watch out for that tree...


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Unread 23-06-2002, 22:12
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Re: Why not?!

Posted by Kristen Kelso at 12/31/2000 9:40 PM EST


Student on team #131, C.H.A.O.S., from Manchester Central High and OSRAM SYLVANIA/Fleet.


In Reply to: Why not?!
Posted by Jessica Boucher on 12/31/2000 12:17 PM EST:



: : I believe this is the right time to question ourselves why we are in the competition in the first place.
: people that you would never associate robots with....
I guess I could be one of those people. The only time that I was ever noted for science was when it had to do with my dad {uhuh, cause he is a mad scientist!!} I may not have joined FIRST because of its engineering and science aspects, but all intentions were still good. When I was first exposed to U.S. FIRST I was in 3rd grade, for me, it was really a time when dad was gone, and that's about it. Same for the beginning of 1995 {4th grade} except it was total opposite at the competition. I can remember sitting in the stands and cheering for 'daddy's team', all the fun I had, and I also remember when 'daddy's team' won the regional. Sitting there and looking in, all I could think about was how much I wanted to be up there. I told myself that day I was going to get up there, and I was more determined then you could guess. I went home and played Sega till I got blisters, because I wasn't just going to be on the team, I was going to be the driver and not only that,it was going to be MY team. I am now going into my 3rd year on C.H.A.O.S., and up until this summer, I never even drove in a competition. Although, I still loved being a part of the team. When I was in 4th grade I just didn't realize all the aspects other then the stage crew. FIRST has changed my life. I went from thinking drill motors were parts of hair dryers, to getting to help dad fix the robot before invitationals this summer, I even got to drive at some invitationals!!! For me, I noticed FIRST because of my family {FIRST=main ingredient in Kelso blood}. I have stayed in FIRST because FIRST is just awesome, no matter how you put it. I look forward to being in FIRST because FIRST has done so much for me I could never let go of it. In forth grade when other little girls were dreaming about becoming princesses and stuff like that, I was dreaming about driving a robot. Even if I never drive in another competition, I had a stab at a 4th grade dream, and that is just the beginning.
Kristen Kelso T131/C.H.A.O.S.



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Re: why why why...?

Posted by Michael Martus at 12/31/2000 5:08 PM EST


Coach on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central H.S. and Delphi Automotives Systems.


In Reply to: why why why...?
Posted by Ken Leung on 12/30/2000 10:05 PM EST:



As an educator I see the FIRST program as the best way for young minds to experience engineering on a ground floor level. The inspiration that my students experience will carry them well into their careers.

I have been teaching for 28+ years and this is the best educational experience going.


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Re: why why I can...?

Posted by nick237 at 12/31/2000 11:32 PM EST


Engineer on team #237, sie h2o bots, from Watertown high school ct and sieman co.


In Reply to: why why why...?
Posted by Ken Leung on 12/30/2000 10:05 PM EST:



I Often wondered that my self......... As a full time Wedding Photographer im probably the least likly to be interested in Robotics and F.I.R.S.T. within our team but I was`nt born a Wedding Photographer.
At the age of 15 way back when T.V. was only 2 channels and gas was 18c a gallon The Headmaster ( principle ) of my London England School asked ( told ) me to leave and not reaturn. He told me education was a waste on me and that I would be better off sweeping the streets.
You see I had an authority complex and concidered all OLD people 'anyone older than me' stupid.
The one thing I could not except was the thought of being a looser. I got a job at a furniture factory where I made very cheap mass produced house hold furniture, I hated it and the next week went looking for another job.
I spent a year going from job to job and wont bore you all with some of the meanial tasks that I took.
The one thing I had though as a kid growing up in England that still showed all the signs of the end of the 2nd World war was the gift of the gab. That meant I could charm the tail off a horse.
Any time I went for a job interview I told the boss I was an expert in what ever they were looking for. I was the biggest liar in London. In 1965 I got a job working with a company that was heavy into Research and Development of new ideas. They had a small tool room and one man working it. During the lunch breaks he would show me how some of the equipment worked and even let me make personal usefull articles like 'knuckle dusters' on them.
He had been working on a job and had become ill, the job had to be done so I volunteered to finish it. The boss who had no idea of what went on in the factory told me to go ahead?
I got the job done and the tool room guy called pete returned a week later. After that I was offered an aprentice possition but I had to go back to school in order to get the aprenticeship. It was the best thing I ever did and education became fun and not a drag.
Since then I have taken my education and gift of gab and traveled all over the world. I have been to nearly every country there is and a few that are now gone but with out that day back in 1965 when I said 'I CAN' I may not be here today.
In those days I was immortal and the world was an $@#$@#$@#, adults were put on this world to agravate me, and sharing was 'ME ME ME'.
A man called pete Gave me my chance, he could see the value in my youth, to me he reminds me of Dean and his dream.
F.I.R.S.T. is my way of saying Thanks for the chance with the students at our High School. EVERY ONE DESERVES THAT CHANCE.
nick237.
P.S. im a photographer because of all my travels and the job pays well, im my own boss too.


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