Life lessons from FIRST

[lovelj]

From Smoky Mountain Regional:

Lesson 1: Accidents happen
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lGhlabCp5Io

#1 alliance in first round had a major setback and needed a perfect game to recover

Lesson 2: Have faith in yourself and your in alliance
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jXw9NvrhI_k

The alliance held together and all three teams contributed to a score that got them to semis by 0.5 points. They eventually went on to win SMR.

As a mentor, I'm always amazed how this program teaches important life lessons to aspiring engineers.

[Shrub]

Lesson 1: You're never above dancing at an FRC event. You can dance if you want to. You can leave your friends behind.

Lesson 2: Nobody is allowed to make you feel bad about doing your best. Nobody is allowed to make your feel bad about your best efforts. Our season was comparatively one of the best our team has ever had. We finally got to be alliance captains. We upped our safety program. We made our own buttons!

Did we make it to Champs? Heavens no. I know and I saw everyone trying their best. That's what this is all about. That's what nobody is allowed to make you feel bad for.

Lesson 3: Try new things. As a senior looking back, I realize I actually grew a lot through two years of pizza and robots. I saw my team grow a lot. I saw little freshmen (and people of all grades) become vital team members every year. If I hadn't come to the first meeting with the promise of free food two years ago, I really would have missed out on all the dancing and friends I made. If I hadn't decided to be on build team this year instead of what I had been doing last year, I would have missed out on all the skills I learned and things I was able to make. The list goes on.

I'm not telling anyone to jump straight out of their comfort zone. I usually spend Thursdays at regionals in utter anxiety at the sheer amount of people I see each time. It takes time to get used to new things and make friends, but that time shouldn't deter you from trying it out. If there is something new, and it interests you, it's always better to try it and see where it takes you. (Unless, of course, it's unsafe. That would be silly.)

Lesson 4: Bad, unthinkable things may happen. Your team and friends will always be there for you. You are not weak for needing a break. You are not weak for crying.