My thoughts of FIRST

[Vincent Chan]

Eric:

Good to see the Mecha Jags at Peacthree! I remember hearing that you needed a drill motor, and our team captain went off to search for a spare. Great job, thanks for the pins, and I hope to see you again next year!

John, I can't say that GP is dead, however, there was a lack of enthusiasm in over half the crowd on Saturday afternoon. Perhaps it was the fact that Peachtree is a new regional. Perhaps it was that more than half the teams were rookie.

Either way, GP was something that I'm proud of FIRST for. Perhaps with the showing of GP during the day, I'd expected something more from the crowd during awards.

I'm sure that many of us try as much as we can to keep GP alive and well. I know that my team helped out 1139 when we could, and they kindly lent us any tools that we didn't have with us. Saturday afternoon, teams let us look at every part of their robot, and all the teams were helpful in suggesting ways to make a better robot. 1002 had a roving tool man to lend tools and compiled scouting reports of all the bots for any teams that wanted them. 832 gave us $5000 to register. (Yes, that was us.) And I can't forget 1183 for helping the two of us that could attend a practice competition with wiring, nor 1081 for giving us a spike that day.

Unfortunately, my team wasn't able to help more, due to drivetrain problems that were worked on for two days.

For all that, awards was disappointing. I was ready to see every team cheering, but not everyone was present. There was a feeling of desperation and loss of hope in some teams. I don't feel that those emotions belong with FIRST. Yes, GP is still existent in FIRST, but I feel we need to have more of it. I'm under the impression that years before, GP was much more alive than it is now.

I must admit that I'm impressed with all participants and volunteers, so far as gracious professionalism goes. I've never experienced as much kindness at a competition as this. However, I can only hope for more.