disillusionment.

[Bill Whitley]

I have lost all interest in FIRST. I was heartbroken by the new restrictions on the teams that could attend nationals. I was never on a winning team, yet I got just as much out of nationals, maybe more, than a student that was on the winning team. While my team did not win, I have the pride in saying that I designed, machined, or built nearly every component of my robot in my 3 years on a team. We did not have a first rate, or even a second rate machine shop, and we did not have quality support from anywhere. However, does this lack in final result mean that I put in any less effort? Does it mean that I learn less? I would argue that I learned more about the person I am. I would argue that I deserve an equal chance to attend nationals as someone who is fortunate enough to have a team that has true support. Apparantly because my team did not produce a robot that won a competition, and my team did not have the funding necessary to win any awards, I am not qualified for nationals. If FIRST thinks that I am not up to its standards, then I say screw it.

The last straw for me was ginger. Dean, someone I looked up to, idolized, even aspired to work for one day, had said before that the only place he would unveil IT was at nationals. Dean and Disney had said that they could handle as many teams as would register. Dean failed me. I do not respect people who do not stand by their word, and Dean has not stood by his word.

I will miss the friendships that were started and those that were nourished from my experience in FIRST. I will miss the design, and the build. And most of the all the competition, of which Dean no longer thought me qualified to attend. I have allowed myself to fade into the shadows, and havent posted in months, I've stopped by and read every so often. This is my final goodbye.

Anyone who wishes to talk to me, reply, IM me (partybill3), or email me (wiwhitle@umich.edu).

Peace,
Bill Whitley