Dealing with Disappointment

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by MysterE

We decided to turn our efforts to cheering on our fellow Baton Rouge team. It was amazing to watch. We were asked questions by a number of other teams. "Why are you cheering so loudly - you aren't on their team."

A somewhat under answered note on this thread.
Perhaps it's the Regionals I've attended, or maybe it's just that teams think we're too obnoxious to approach but having attempted to win Team Spirit for three years, and winning it the past two years, I can say that we've never been asked this question. Granted, IIRC, we've never cheered for a specific team, but our team will usually pick sides to cheer for during Eliminations, even when we're not participating in those eliminations. I think that cheering for other teams is well within the spirit of FIRST, and something that all teams can do for the remainder of the competition they're at. The teams competing in Elims earned their spot, and you can at least give them a hearty cheer every now and then. You don't hear it when you're driving, but it certainly makes you feel better when you're watching the video later and find out that people still support you.

Originally Posted by Kims Robot

For me, I've found that I go through a cycle. Sometimes it's longer than others, but generally it maps to the same exact cadence. And I think it nearly mirrors your story above.
1. The initial shock of the disappointment sets in...
2. Then the annoyance and outward blame hits my mind ("that team cheated", "they did this to sabotage us", "the judges were biased")...
3. Then the realization and inward blame hits me ("I didn't do enough", "I should have...", "I missed...", "That was stupid of me to think...")...
4. And then I fall back into the moment... the "What can I do right now", which usually lends to picking myself back up and making the situation right, fun, better, etc...
5. And the last stage is the shear determination to do better next year, and my mind will start racing with new ideas, new plans, improvements, changes, fixes, etc.

It's probably because I've been super critical of myself as of late, but I think I usually skip step 2 and jump straight into step 3. I can see why teams would enter step 2, and an argument can be made as to why it's okay for step 2, but I'd like to make a counter argument for that. There was a thread not too long ago (I can't find it now) about how you should never lie to your students about what happened and why it happened, and I feel like the responses to that thread could be applied to this now.

Disappointment happens. Personally, our team had an abysmal showing at our first regional, and only a semi decent showing at our second. At our second, we ended up being selected by the #2 alliance and played 5 tough matches, only to be outed in Semis. It was rough, seeing that last score roll and knowing that my senior year I will not be attending Championships with a merit qualified robot. I hardly remember the finals, hardly remember asking Dean to sign my New Cool; I had simply gone numb from our performance on field. My only hope for the team qualifying for Champions was through the Chairman's Award. Alas, awards come by and I find out that we did not win, and yet again found out that while we did a lot, we did not do nearly enough community work. It stings. And the feeling looms over yourself and your team for quite some time.

But everyone else is right; it does not do well to dwell on the past. Remember all the things that you did well this season and past seasons. For instance, although we had less than great showings at our regionals, we still managed a Gracious Professionalism award at one regional, and a Team Spirit at another. (And the unofficial gratuitous use of the machine shop award at one). Our amazing Public Relations department also pumped out an essay that finally would publicly recognize our mentor with a WFFA, and celebrate him in the same way we celebrate his dedication year to year.

Alas, I digress. It's easy to dwell on your disappointments and continue to wallow in self pity but I know that FIRST Robotics participants are always ready to take a challenge head on. The challenge in this? Find a way to never be in these shoes again. Always strive to do better.