Go to Post The losing alliance should know they lost, admit it, and use the desire to win to push themselves even further. - artdutra04 [more]
Home
Go Back   Chief Delphi > FIRST > General Forum
CD-Media   CD-Spy  
portal register members calendar search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read FAQ rules

 
 
 
Thread Tools Rating: Thread Rating: 7 votes, 5.00 average. Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #15   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 30-03-2015, 21:13
YAK'ker's Avatar
YAK'ker YAK'ker is offline
Registered User
FRC #2192 (YAK Attack)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Rookie Year: 2007
Location: Newport, Oregon
Posts: 76
YAK'ker has a spectacular aura aboutYAK'ker has a spectacular aura about
Re: Changing a culture of cynicism

Quote:
Originally Posted by matthewdenny View Post
Our competition season recently came and went with the Buckeye Regional in Cleveland (Congrats to the Winners). During the course of the competition I witnessed a culture in my team that both irritates and befuddles me. It has been constant since our inception as a team in 2012. Until this year though I didn't recognize it for what it is: Cynicism.

Almost all members of our team exhibit this quality. They never allow themselves to be excited about pretty much anything... ever. When other teams cheer and yell, they sit and observe. When theres mascots dancing with people in a corridor, they detour around. When people stand and cheer at awards presentations, they might give a golf clap.

I talked about this with my upperclassmen Friday night, and here's what I got from them (I will paraphrase their quotes).

-"If I don't get excited, I can't get disappointed"

I've thought about the nature of cynicism over the last few days, and I think it stems from the general feelings of hopelessness, mistrust that is prevalent in our student population. Being in rural Appalachian Ohio has (I infer from them) has a lot to do with this. Granted, at times it can be a bit depressing in an economic way, but I don't see it the same way they do.

MY question... how do I change this? I think the world can be an amazing place for a bright kid, and FIRST is the exact type of thing that they should feel safe to give in to vulnerability that comes with excitement. How can I overcome this culture of cynicism and let them feel free to enjoy the ride?

As a note: If you are on a team that has got a cold shoulder from someone on our team, I'm deeply sorry.
Have seen this...even from my own son, who lived, loved, and breathed FIRST for many years. (Robotics competitions at the college level sort of destroyed his enthusiasm for competition, unfortunately.) Our demographics are similar to yours....I believe that cynicism extends to almost every activity at school. I always wonder that they get through their day and do so well academically, with their poor attitudes. But - it is a FRONT - they are wanting to find some way to make themselves unique and feel superior, even though they feel completely inferior in most respects. By acting like they are rejecting the spirit of the competition, it puts them in a safe spot where they don't have to feel rejected if they do join in. It's maddening to us mentors to deal with their "I am above your petty enthusiasm" attitude, especially when they screw up the Chairmans Award video they were assigned (what happened to us this year.)

I believe it is really best to confront them about their attitude. Ask them to give you more than a flippant reason why they are doing this. Let them know that you feel it undermines the team's success. Tell them you know they have much to give to the team, but if they can't be positive, they should consider not being part of it.

For those of us who are coming from a tough spot already, a positive attitude makes all the difference in how we view our successes and failures and whether we grow from them or let them limit us.
__________________
“Wisdom comes from experience. Experience is often a result of lack of wisdom.”
― Terry Pratchett
Reply With Quote
 


Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 23:28.

The Chief Delphi Forums are sponsored by Innovation First International, Inc.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi