Dealing with robotics regrets

[techhelpbb]

Speaking only for myself:

I have some regrets from 20 years or so of on and off involvement with FIRST at many levels.

1. I never regret helping students.
2. I never regret when our robots perform less than expected - because I never regret helping students and helping them learn how to recover from failure is part of that (that does not mean I don't have empathy).
3. Winning at all costs is becoming a way of life seemingly around all of the the World - and the problem is often 'at all costs' is not really just your costs or consequences and I regret that more people do not understand that (a lack of empathy).
4. I often regret that some of the things FIRST aspires to and inspires to achieve are somewhat scope limited to FIRST. At some point I think that it's possible to outgrow FIRST and to sit down and rationally say - I don't need this 6 week deadline to get these benefits for my community or me.
5. I may yet regret that between 3 and 4 that the glue of competition is more appealing and binding than the benefits beyond the competition in this World. Sometimes you have to do what's right because it's right - not because you will win an award.