Breaking the Geek-FIRST Bias

[KelliV]

I don't think that we should try to appeal to people just by shaking off the "geek" title... If someone wants to join FIRST they should do it becuase they want to... not because the team travels, gives you extra credits ( at least at my school it does),or offers a chance to be on a winning team, unlike most of the others at RMHS. Why should FIRST be flooded with people that do not want to work and just want to ride along on the other team members coat tails. Who cares if we are geeks, dorks, or nerds.
Being in a club won't change a status title. For example I was the cheerleading captin for two years and a FIRST team leader but even with the cheerleading title I am still pegged with the geek name.
Geek in our school has become accepted... being a geek is better than being a jock, cheerleader, or a loaner in our school. I like to think that FIRST has had a part in changing this. After our team started to win way back in '95 the school shifted gears and became more accepting of people with the geek name. My teacher even has a stamp that reads geek. The clubs that are being signed up for are no longer cheerleading and football although those are still very respected people have started to join debate, speech, student council and our now 67+ member FIRST team.
I guess what I am getting at is for people to try and make people accept the "geek" name... not try and change it, you never know what might happen!