Go to Post I personally hope they change the terrain of the playing field ... if only to "level" the playing field. - Daniel_LaFleur [more]
Home
Go Back   Chief Delphi > FIRST > General Forum
CD-Media   CD-Spy  
portal register members calendar search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read FAQ rules

 
View Poll Results: Is FIRST still fun?
Yes 83 82.18%
No 18 17.82%
Voters: 101. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 11-02-2003, 23:54
Madison's Avatar
Madison Madison is offline
Dancing through life...
FRC #0488 (Xbot)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1999
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,246
Madison has a reputation beyond reputeMadison has a reputation beyond reputeMadison has a reputation beyond reputeMadison has a reputation beyond reputeMadison has a reputation beyond reputeMadison has a reputation beyond reputeMadison has a reputation beyond reputeMadison has a reputation beyond reputeMadison has a reputation beyond reputeMadison has a reputation beyond reputeMadison has a reputation beyond repute
Are you still having fun?

I'm not sure what the impetus of this poll is.

For me, FIRST used to be loads and loads of fun. It's not, really, anymore. Not for me, anyway.

So, is FIRST still something that's fun for you? Or is it a miserable, joyless, overwhelming, unappreciative job?
__________________
--Madison--

...down at the Ozdust!

Like a grand and miraculous spaceship, our planet has sailed through the universe of time. And for a brief moment, we have been among its many passengers.
Reply With Quote
  #2   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-02-2003, 00:03
Stephen Kowski's Avatar
Stephen Kowski Stephen Kowski is offline
BSEE, MSEE, JD
AKA: employed
no team
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 2000
Location: Saint Petersburg, FL
Posts: 1,144
Stephen Kowski has a reputation beyond reputeStephen Kowski has a reputation beyond reputeStephen Kowski has a reputation beyond reputeStephen Kowski has a reputation beyond reputeStephen Kowski has a reputation beyond reputeStephen Kowski has a reputation beyond reputeStephen Kowski has a reputation beyond reputeStephen Kowski has a reputation beyond reputeStephen Kowski has a reputation beyond reputeStephen Kowski has a reputation beyond reputeStephen Kowski has a reputation beyond repute
Send a message via AIM to Stephen Kowski
It is fun for me because it is all one huge learning experience. You can't buy these kind of experiences. I have felt very burned out at times, but it is only six weeks. I'll sleep next month.
Reply With Quote
  #3   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-02-2003, 00:18
D. Gregory's Avatar
D. Gregory D. Gregory is offline
FIRST Junkie
no team (UHS Wolfpack)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 104
D. Gregory is an unknown quantity at this point
Send a message via ICQ to D. Gregory Send a message via MSN to D. Gregory
Hell yes. I have lost hours of sleep to stress and worry and I have pretty much donated my life to my team (8am-11pm) but FIRST is still tons of fun.
__________________
Duct tape is the force that holds the universe together. Everywhere except FIRST that is.
Reply With Quote
  #4   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-02-2003, 00:24
Eric Bareiss's Avatar
Eric Bareiss Eric Bareiss is offline
It's a Bird
AKA: BoogyShoes
FRC #1492 (Team Caution)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Rookie Year: 2000
Location: Chandler, Arizona
Posts: 291
Eric Bareiss is a glorious beacon of lightEric Bareiss is a glorious beacon of lightEric Bareiss is a glorious beacon of lightEric Bareiss is a glorious beacon of lightEric Bareiss is a glorious beacon of light
Send a message via AIM to Eric Bareiss
Quote:
For me, FIRST used to be loads and loads of fun. It's not, really, anymore. Not for me, anyway.
It's because you aren't a kid anymore, you can't just sit back and watch someone else build it for you if you get tired. I'm kinda going through the same thing now that i'm a mentor. Once you get to regionals it will all go away.
Reply With Quote
  #5   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-02-2003, 01:13
Gope Gope is offline
Registered User
#0016 (Bomb Squad)
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Mountain Home, AR
Posts: 230
Gope is on a distinguished road
I enjoy every moment in FIRST.

design, building, power point stuff, excel, research, tweaking, arguing, competing

its all great
__________________
College and its wonders. First year and alot of other FIRSTs.
Reply With Quote
  #6   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-02-2003, 01:38
Unsung FIRST Hero
JVN JVN is offline
@JohnVNeun
AKA: John Vielkind-Neun
FRC #0148 (Robowranglers)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: May 2001
Rookie Year: 2000
Location: Greenville, Tx
Posts: 3,159
JVN has a reputation beyond reputeJVN has a reputation beyond reputeJVN has a reputation beyond reputeJVN has a reputation beyond reputeJVN has a reputation beyond reputeJVN has a reputation beyond reputeJVN has a reputation beyond reputeJVN has a reputation beyond reputeJVN has a reputation beyond reputeJVN has a reputation beyond reputeJVN has a reputation beyond repute
"Winning cures all"

It's amazing how quickly we forget the 6-weeks-of-stress during competition...

Which brings on a whole other kind of stress....
__________________
In the interest of full disclosure: I work for VEX Robotics a subsidiary of Innovation First International (IFI) Crown Supplier & Proud Supporter of FIRST
Reply With Quote
  #7   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-02-2003, 02:21
Sean_330's Avatar
Sean_330 Sean_330 is offline
SoCal Pride!!!!!!!!!!
#0330 (Beach Bot V 4.0)
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 274
Sean_330 is on a distinguished road
Send a message via AIM to Sean_330
I really enjoy FIRST even though I am not a technical person. On the whole, you learn a lot about human nature in FIRST and not just engineering. I enjoy the whole experience from the build, to volunteering at regionals and nationals. Even though it was my 4th year involved last year was a total blast when I was a referee for IRI, that was the most fun I have had at a competetion.
__________________
2002 SoCal Champions (64, 60, 330), and SoCal Sportsmanship Award
2002 FIRST crew, SoCal, SV regionals, and Nat's (Newton Field)
2002 Referee, IRI, California Robotics Games
2002/2003 Head Referee, SCRRF
2003 Referee, SV Regional
Reply With Quote
  #8   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-02-2003, 04:19
Skabana159's Avatar
Skabana159 Skabana159 is offline
Robotics and Field Hockey
AKA: Jesse C. Owens
#0159 (Alpine Robotics)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Rookie Year: 2000
Location: Ft. Collins, CO
Posts: 92
Skabana159 is on a distinguished road
Send a message via AIM to Skabana159
Quote:
For me, FIRST used to be loads and loads of fun. It's not, really, anymore. Not for me, anyway.
I'm truly dismayed to see you feeling that way! I hope I never grow tired of my dear FIRST. Perhaps what you need to do is step back and look at what experiences you got during your High School FIRST days, and realize that you are now facilitating that for all those people on your team.
By the way, now that I am no longer a kid, I CAN sit back, because I make them do it all, while I "supervise" . But seriously, I can't think of any nobler or more enjoyable a cause than being a mentor on my FIRST team.
I hope that the impending end of The Six Weeks, you will be able to realize that it was your influence that helped make that whole bot be in that crate...
__________________
"What most people do not understand is that the Buddha, the Godhead, resides just as comfortably in gears and circuits as in hills and trees. To believe otherwise is to dilute the Godhead."
-Robert Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Reply With Quote
  #9   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-02-2003, 08:31
melitami's Avatar
melitami melitami is offline
PhD-in-training
AKA: Melissa Thiessen
no team
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Rookie Year: 2000
Location: Philadelphia, PA USA
Posts: 77
melitami is a jewel in the roughmelitami is a jewel in the roughmelitami is a jewel in the rough
Send a message via AIM to melitami
Talking why else would I be doing it?

The fun of FIRST comes from the people. If you are on a team of people who enjoy and embody FIRST, then you should still be having fun. If you're not still having fun, why are you doing it?

I've seen FIRST from both sides, two years as a student participant, a year as a volunteer at regionals, and this year, as a mentor and volunteer. I'm still as enthusiastic and have as much fun as I did the first year. Figure out why you're not having fun anymore; FIRST is a learning experience, but you're also supposed to be having fun and enjoying it.
__________________
There is a solution...
Reply With Quote
  #10   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-02-2003, 08:51
Alex Forest's Avatar
Alex Forest Alex Forest is offline
MadHatter
#0190 (Gompei and the H.E.R.D.)
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Worcester, MA
Posts: 184
Alex Forest is an unknown quantity at this point
Send a message via AIM to Alex Forest
Quote:
It's because you aren't a kid anymore, you can't just sit back and watch someone else build it for you if you get tired.
I'm assuming by this you dont mean to imply that you didnt just watch other people build yourrobot and not put any of your blood and sweat and time and energy into creating the beautiful masterpiece that you can call your own.

As for FIRSt being fun, I love FIRST. Its a great place to relieve stress (who doesnt like to swing a sledgehammer at a piece that doesnt want to stay in place) take out other anger (BANDSAWS!) and hang with some of the coolest people you will ever meet? Competitions are a great way to meet new people, including the most diverse set of skills and personalities, all come together for the same reason...The only time I ever get annoyed wtih FIRST is when I have to witness or reap the consequences of the enormous amountof politicing that goes on in our team, but i think that is just the team, and not any part of FIRST. FIRST is life... =)
__________________
Ahh...the wonderful and new experience of being a college mentor. Wow. its very disturbing to have people thinking that I know what I am doing....*shudder*
Reply With Quote
  #11   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-02-2003, 10:16
Vin211's Avatar
Vin211 Vin211 is offline
Registered User
FRC #0237 (T.R.I.B.E)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Rookie Year: 1998
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 184
Vin211 will become famous soon enoughVin211 will become famous soon enough
Send a message via AIM to Vin211 Send a message via Yahoo to Vin211
Unhappy What is fun? What is fair?

I love the organization of U.S FIRST. Its organization is number

one to me. For more than a decade, it has molded the future

engineers, architects, etc.... for this country and other countries.


For some reason though, some teams take the fun out of it.

Some people forget that its for the students. On some teams

politics is taken into account. I feel that teams are arguing more

on a political level rather than discussing the robotic aspects of

the game.


For example:

I have witnessed a team that has taken them longer to design a

team jersey than build the actual robot.

Sometimes the power of certain individuals goes to their heads.

So instead of dealing with robotic team issues, they argue which

color or what design something is going to be. I believe some

teams waste time, money, and resources of some of their

students. Some team advisor's don't realize how precious some

of their students are until they quit and move onto another team.
__________________
Vincent Zotto

Sie-H20 Bots (1999 - 2002)
Cyber Knights (2003 - 2005)
Sie-H20 Bots (2007 - Present)
Reply With Quote
  #12   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-02-2003, 12:45
gilachick gilachick is offline
Registered User
#1011 (CRUSH)
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 16
gilachick is an unknown quantity at this point
I went to college and couldn't live without FIRST. I can truly say that FIRST will always be fun. I think that it is amazing to see how the kids that we mentor learn somethig new everyday. And that they want to be there.
__________________
"Life without FIRST is no life at all"
Reply With Quote
  #13   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-02-2003, 12:58
LizJJury
 
Posts: n/a
I love FIRST and have so much fun. If we run out of stuff to do or get really frusterated I will play a quick game of euchre with people online and then I feel refreshed and ready to go again.

so have fun and take breaks if you can

everyone will benefit from it.
Reply With Quote
  #14   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-02-2003, 13:13
Jeff Waegelin's Avatar
Jeff Waegelin Jeff Waegelin is offline
El Jefe de 148
AKA: Midwest Refugee
FRC #0148 (Robowranglers)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: Greenville, TX
Posts: 3,132
Jeff Waegelin has a reputation beyond reputeJeff Waegelin has a reputation beyond reputeJeff Waegelin has a reputation beyond reputeJeff Waegelin has a reputation beyond reputeJeff Waegelin has a reputation beyond reputeJeff Waegelin has a reputation beyond reputeJeff Waegelin has a reputation beyond reputeJeff Waegelin has a reputation beyond reputeJeff Waegelin has a reputation beyond reputeJeff Waegelin has a reputation beyond reputeJeff Waegelin has a reputation beyond repute
When I'm at school, building the bot with our wonderful build team, I have fun. When I think about the team and everyone else on it, I suddenly lose that feeling. Isn't it amazing how a few team members can destroy the spirit of a team?
__________________
Jeff Waegelin
Mechanical Engineer, Innovation First Labs
Lead Engineer, Team 148 - The Robowranglers
Reply With Quote
  #15   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 12-02-2003, 14:16
Thunder360 Thunder360 is offline
Registered User
#0940 (Digital Demolition)
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Brookings SD
Posts: 48
Thunder360 is on a distinguished road
Its always been fun!!!!
__________________
"Who needs Battle Bots, Ive got US FIRST!!!"
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Thanks for the fun all... archiver 2001 0 24-06-2002 03:23
anything else fun to do in FL? archiver 2001 14 24-06-2002 02:08
Just for fun. archiver 2000 7 24-06-2002 00:16
that was fun (rally in the valley) fast frank Off-Season Events 6 23-05-2002 16:39
fun fun fun.... Brian Savitt Regional Competitions 0 31-05-2001 20:59


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 16:27.

The Chief Delphi Forums are sponsored by Innovation First International, Inc.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi