A FIRST Championship Experience from a Veteran Student

[msimon785]

Unlike most other students involved in FRC, I began my journey through FIRST (specifically FRC) in 7th grade. Since the beginning I was always enthralled by my experiences, and passionate beyond belief (like so many others) about FIRST and STEM. A junior in High-School in my 5th FRC season, this year was my first opportunity to attend the Championship event. I learned so very much this past week not only about how through simply striving for excellence can bring a team to achieve just that, but also how crucial it is for a team to operate (and I thank Karthik for these words) as more than a group of individuals working on a robot, but rather as a family. Below I outline my experience at the 2012 FIRST Championships.

There is no describing the wonder of the FIRST Championships. It is an awe-evoking experience that proves we are never too far from innovation. This year, I had the honor of sitting 5 feet away from the Einstein field as one of 1515's representatives for the awards ceremony. Along with my colleague and friend Alex Kern, I was immersed in the intensity and exhilaration that is Einstein and the FIRST Championships. I felt the Canadian pride as Karthik and 1114 won the so incredibly well deserved Championship Chairman's award and thus a seat in the Hall of Fame. I shared in the excitement of Atomic Robotics (congrats, Akash!) as in their rookie year they were awarded the merited Rookie Inspiration award. I also congratulate Adam Heard on 973's reception of the Championship Engineering Excellence award presented for their dominant swerve-drive and intake mechanism. Just as strongly as I felt the pride in these teams as they received their awards, 1515 was lucky enough to witness two of its sister schools, 207 and 233 fight for their seat as the 2012 World Champions. While fate gave that opportunity to the equally well-deserving Galileo alliance, I and the rest of 1515 wholeheartedly congratulate our friends on their incredible success and strong fight on Einstein.

It is with great pride that I announce 1515's selection as a finalist for the Autodesk Excellence in Design award! Each season, in accordance with the incredible workload that is CAD, there comes a time that I question its worth. However, being selected as a finalist for the award for the second consecutive year makes it wholly worth it. Thank you to everyone who contributed ideas and support throughout 1515's design process this year. I am very grateful to have met Phil Dollan, the Autodesk representative fronting the collaboration of FIRST and Autodesk Inventor. I had the chance to get to know him, and am very pleased about that.

Additionally, I had the incredible honor of meeting my personal hero and inspiration, Dean Kamen. It would be impossible for me to list the many accomplishments - even far beyond the scope of FIRST- , characteristics and marvels that define Dean and make him such a role-model for myself and countless others. To Dean, thank you for everything you do. To FIRST, rock on.

I hope others share their positive experiences here and step back from emphasizing the troubles of FMS as has already happened in so many other threads.

[Undertones]

I wholeheartedly agree. I too, had the honor of meeting Mr. Kamen. It was directly after the final match of Einstein. Everybody was shaking his hand, thanking him for being their inspiration, etc etc. I walked up to him and respectfully as I could questioned him about the communications problems on the field. He was very vague with me. He did confirm that there was a problem though. And that was still an even better answer then we were getting from the volunteers, who consistently denied that there was a problem.

[joelg236]

I think that FIRST provides way more than a competition. I can say completely honestly that build season has provided me with 100000x more skills than I previously had about robotics, a lot of people who I would be proud to call friends, and even more-so, a creative outlet to pursue my passion. It wasn't just about championships. I would even say that it had nothing to do with championships. The game is just an excuse to do what we do during those amazing 6 weeks. As a first year FIRST student, I hope to have a similar experience as OP during my years.

OP, congrats on what you've done, and hopefully you do as many people have before, and continue mentoring others.

[Joon Park]

FRC does some amazing things to all of us.

As a third year member, I saw rookies transform from a shy, quiet boy sitting at the back of the first meeting to the enthusiastic team member who gave a speech to the team on the way back from St. Louis. I watched as friends who are unable to put effort into school become inspired and raise their grades to attend the championship event. I witnessed my nerdiest of all nerd friends break out of his mold and socialize with other drive team members on the field.

What we share, in this organization composed of countless individuals from all over the world, is something that words cannot easily describe. Yet we all know we are part of something substantial, something monumental, something greater than all of us, because of the inspiration FIRST has given to us.

I'm more than glad to hear that your experience at St. Louis was fantastic, especially because this was my very first year to be able to attend the championship event. I would also have to say that the event was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Everything from last minute tie-breaking baskets and double triple balances to the sleepless nights in the hotel rooms, the experience was truly one of the best in my life.

Thank you, FIRST, for putting inspiration into my life.