F stand for Fame in FIRST?

[Mike Ciance]

Originally Posted by Meli W.

Maybe I"m just weird...but I know I would be kinda creeped out if I was one of the "famous" FIRST people. Why? Because no one is any different than anyone else in my eyes. Granted, some people stand out more, but that is because the other people might not have gotten a chance yet to shine. I mean, I rather just have a few close friendships with people from other team than have people just talk to me about stuff they know I've done. When you become "famous", some people view you as different and better; honestly, they should be treated as you would treat anyone else.

i think it is possible to be famous and still have many close friendships. what you need to do is stress the fact that, while you may be famous, you don't consider yourself better than anybody else.

i do agree, though, that many people have the potential to be famous, but just havent landed in the right set of circumstances yet.

[Andy Grady]

Originally Posted by Andy A.

Fame? You think its bad being famous...

Between Andy B. and Andy G. being Andy A. has some unspoken expectations put on it.

Seriously folks, living up to the Andy lastinitialhere. name thing is a little rough at times. I find my self lying awake at night trying to think of ways to make the Andy's who have come before me proud.

It's a hard knock life, being an Andy in this world.

-Andy A.

Keep in mind, there are two Andy B's. Baker and Brockway. So that makes four of us goofy Andy's!

I don't know if I'd call it fame, but instead the more colorful personalities in FIRST being thrust into the spotlight because they are easy to remember. Take Baker for instance...who else in this world would chase a pig, drag it by its tail, and post it up for hundreds of people to see! Eventually, its that same thing which keeps them in our mind, and keeps us inspired.

[Ryan Dognaux]

My original purpose of joining these forums was to meet new people on other teams, and I think it has worked pretty well. I've also had a few people come up to me and ask "Hey aren't you Ryan... Doan... Doan.... that Ryan guy from chiefdelphi?" I just think it's pretty cool when some random person comes up to you and knows your face or name. I don't know about being "famous" with this community, that might be a little weird, but I could handle being known.

[Chris Hibner]

Ken,

This is a great thread on an interesting topic. I haven't tought anything about this until you brought it up, but since you mentioned it, it seems like part of Dean Kamen's vision is becoming a reality. In his old speeches he used to say that a goal of FIRST is to make people think of scientists and engineers in the same way that they think of pop stars and professional athletes. The fact that this thread exists shows that the change is afoot.

-Chris

[Jessica Boucher]

On this same point of discussion, sometimes I wonder what the FIRST-famous are like from the outside....when you take out the FIRST from the person. For example, to you and I, Baker's about as famous as you can get without being on staff....but what's he like at Delphi? What's JVN like at Clarkson minus the robot?

I think its interesting that people at these places could see these people every day...and have no idea that they're a hero of FIRST. It's saddening, really...it shows how far we still have to go...but as Chris said, just having the famous exist means we're well on our way.

[Beth Sweet]

I believe that people are only famous if others feel the need to make them famous. If enough people have enough respect for you and look up to you enough for them to call you famous, I think that there would be nothing more flattering than to be called such. But hey, once again, just my own little opinion.

[Ken Leung]

Originally Posted by Chris Hibner

Ken,

This is a great thread on an interesting topic. I haven't tought anything about this until you brought it up, but since you mentioned it, it seems like part of Dean Kamen's vision is becoming a reality. In his old speeches he used to say that a goal of FIRST is to make people think of scientists and engineers in the same way that they think of pop stars and professional athletes. The fact that this thread exists shows that the change is afoot.

-Chris

Changes are happening through out the FIRST community, we can't deny that. My only concern is, are the people ready to become these "Heroes" Dean intended for all high school students to have?

People like Andy B., Dave Lavery, and JVN seems to grab people's attention whereever they go, whenever they said something even when it mean little to them (well, that's how I imagine it anyway). To be under thousands of watchful eyes everytime you show up at a competition is not something I desire at a FIRST competition, or life in general. I can only imagine the pressure they experience to be public figures. Then again, since I am not them, I would never know completely how they feel.

Actually, I don't mean to be negative about the subject. I tend to think of the worst case scenarior on just about everything. I actually think it can be fun to be well known by lots of people at a robotics competition. Its like you did some work ahead of time when you meet new people, because they know about you already. Now all you have to do is to find out about other people.

I think the important thing is that you really do have to work hard to get to meet people and get to know who they are. It goes for both way on this interesting relationship between someone famous and their admirers. Just because you are famous doesn't mean you should stand there and let people talk to you. And just because you admire someone, doesn't mean they are necessary better than you.

I suppose I really should follow my own advice. In the past few years I've hide behind my name on the Chief Delphi Forum, and didn't pay attention to the people who really deserve them. I guess its part of my anti-social personality and fear of meeting new people, hopefully that will change as I learn more and more about growing up.

Not sure why I started the thread at the beginning, but I am enjoying the thinking whenever I read or reply to a post in here. This is kinda fun!

[MikeDubreuil]

I think FIRST fame is nice, but it's definitely over-rated. It's also certainly not what the program is about.

I get plenty of fame on my own team. Staying until 4am on ship night so the robot gets finished. Mentoring a student and teaching them something they never thought they could do. I like it when the people on my team talk glowingly about my contributions. Or when I help another team out and they appreciate what I've done for them.

Unfortunately, I'm not famous, and people like me are a dime a dozen in FIRST. Well respected and famed on their own teams, but the rest of the world never hears about us.

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Ken Leung

... people like JVN, Andy Baker, Dave Lavery are among many who got the community's full attention right now.

Just want to know what you think...

Well Ken,
While I certainly wouldn't have placed myself in such distinguished company, (Andy... you're swell too ) lately I keep seeing myself referenced as such. Since I'm on your list, I guess I'll (however egotistical it is of me to do so) provide some insight on how I see things.

The "fame" you speak of is a weird thing, and it is tough to get used to (for many of the reasons that have already been discussed).

I find myself wondering what I did to deserve it (those who know me best have seen) because I'm just a normal guy, and just another Joe Schmoe in this competition. I've just gotten lucky, and had some incredible experiences, and met a lot of incredible people who have just made my time in this competition downright incredible.

This "fame" has certainly opened some doors for me, and made for some interesting times. Can you imagine how amused my parents must be that some kid in New Jersey has my name on his backback?
If nothing else it has helped me meet more of the people that make this competition great, which is fantastic.

It is also really cool to see the FIRST programs impact through all this. (preachy lesson time folks). I'm just a regular guy, going to college and majoring in Mechanical Engineering, but the fact that there are students across the country who look up to me (God help them...) is just amazing.
FIRST works. If a MechE-dork like me can be a hero for a HS kid, FIRST is certainly having SOME effect.

But of course, I feel a lot of pressure because of this...
I know I've certainly been trying to fill the shoes I've been given, but I'm still not sure how good of a job I'm doing.
All I can promise is that I'll keep trying to be the role model everyone seems to think I am.

Thanks,
John


PS - Ken L is my FIRST celebrity. Wooo, go Kenny!

[JVN]

I intended this to go in my original post, but it's worthy of it's own:

Part of this "fame" is the guilt that comes with it.
Everyone gives me way more credit than I deserve.

There are people on my team who practically carry me through the season. No joke. Without them, I would be nothing.

I wouldn't be who I am, without a little help from my friends.

Thanks guys.

[Mike Schroeder]

Originally Posted by JVN

I intended this to go in my original post, but it's worthy of it's own:

Part of this "fame" is the guilt that comes with it.
Everyone gives me way more credit than I deserve.

There are people on my team who practically carry me through the season. No joke. Without them, I would be nothing.

I wouldn't be who I am, without a little help from my friends.

Thanks guys.

whoa you mean JVN wasnt the inspiration for the Energizer battery guy... holy crap this warps my whole perspective on life

[Adam Y.]

Wanna see popularity... Dave Lavery has his name on 1331 web pages and in 22 journals. I suspect that some of them are not the same Dave we all know but they must still be nerds since I searched their name on www.scirus.com.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Andy A.

Fame? You think its bad being famous...

Between Andy B. and Andy G. being Andy A. has some unspoken expectations put on it.

Seriously folks, living up to the Andy lastinitialhere. name thing is a little rough at times. I find my self lying awake at night trying to think of ways to make the Andy's who have come before me proud.

It's a hard knock life, being an Andy in this world.

-Andy A.

Oh boy...
Now we have (at least) 4 Andys in FIRST?

There is Andy Grady - Team 126 - Gael Force (among other teams)
Andy Baker - Team 45 - TechnoKats
Andy Brockaway - Team 716 - Who's C Techs?
and now a 4th Andy,
Andy A from Team 885

Wow... All these Andy's and no abundant mass of Annies to keep them company...

[Ben Lauer]

Fame? Why not. Who doesn't want to have fame, well at least be known. But I think of it slightly different.

I want to have something of mine be known. I want to have a great feat, or great problem known because it was solved. I don't want myself to be known for doing it, just have it be known that it was done. I guess I don't want fame as i see it today. I don't want to be that one guy who did that one thing. I want others say, "Oh wow, I am really glad some one finally did that, Thanks to whoever it was."

[Solace]

though I've never been privileged to have any personal fame, I do constantly endeavor to gain more recognition for my team in the FIRST community. It's so cool to be able to tell someone from california that I'm from team 571, and for them to actually know who we are. My need for recognition and fame is satisfied as long as i know that all the work i have put in throughout the year was not done simply so that we would fade back into obscurity at the end. Had you ever heard of 571 two years ago? hmmm? probably not. hopefully, we have started to change that.

yeah, i know, so I'm a fairly egotistical person. but being humble really takes all the fun out of it, don't you think?