My wish? make the BuildBlitzs/RobotIn3Days projects go away...

[JosephC]

FIRST'S MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

"To inspire young people to be science and technology leaders." I find nothing more inspiring then watching FIRST superstars design and build a robot. It makes me think, if they can do that, then why shouldn't I be able to do that one day?

"By engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills." Although JVN, Copioli, and the Ri3D team may not be direct team mentors, they are most definitely teaching those who watch their videos science, engineering and technology skills, and making it exciting while they do it.

"That inspire innovation." After watching Ri3D last year, the first thought in my mind was, what can I do that would make this even better? What can I do to innovate this design and incorporate it into my team's design so we can be a stronger competitor?

"And that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership." 2012 was my first year where I saw freshman really step up during design discussion. Listening to someone who had never been to a FIRST competition speak passionately about designs they had thought of because of Ri3D really warmed my heart up. Never before had I seen 1st years speak with such confidence, communicate their ideas so well, and really step up; showing leadership.


FIRST's mission isn't to help promote different unique designs, its to do exactly what Ri3D did last year. I say, keep it up 72 hour build projects; you're doing just fine.