We Aim For The Stars Part III

[Ken Leung]

My Fellow Engineers, teachers, mentors, parents, and Students,

A year has past since our last count down to the year 2005, and once again we find ourselves eagerly await a new year, a new season, and a new game ahead of us.

Still, there is a lot to be thankful for 2005, a year that brought great joy, big changes, and fond memories to many of us. I was thrilled to find great movies like “Good Night and Good luck” by George Clooney, “King Kong” by Peter Jackson, and “Munich” by Steven Spielberg on the silver screen, just as I was delighted at discovering books like “The World is Flat” by Thomas L. Friedman, and “Team of Rivals” by Doris Kearns Goodwin. But most importantly, it was a new surrounding and a new dream that occupied most of my year of 2005.

I understand that there’s a lot to be thankful around here as well. Perhaps you’ve gotten the gift from Lavery Clause? Or perhaps you’ve wrecked your brain when the new hint promised the most confusing, mind boggling game you’ve ever seen? Yes, I may not be around often, but I still noticed the 499+ pages of discussions around here (Perhaps we have Lavery Clause to thank for this as well?).

Yet, in the mist of all that is new, we tend to forget these other things that happened as well. The devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and the Tsunami of South East Asia just short of new year last year.

As we walk into 2006, I am reminded again and again why we are doing what we are doing, why FIRST existed in the first place. Again and again I remembered why we need more scientist, engineers, teachers, mentors, leaders, thinkers, and problem solvers in this world.

In the mist of all that is exciting, promising, and changing, we dare not forget the bigger picture, the why’s, the how’s, and the what’s, and the needs that are calling us everyday, overwhelming us when we thought we were ready.
In the middle of pushing our minds to the limit to come up with another killer design to dominate the new game, we dare not forget the disasters and tragedies that await us in the future, threatening and looming behind the shadow we can’t quite see through.
In the middle of puzzling together a strategy in the last match of the championship event, we dare not forget that this is only a part of a journey that will lead us to yet another step in our lives, that we are where we are not because of what we have, but because what we don’t have and we strive for something better.
In the middle of compiling a chairman’s award entry that shows the will to spread the mission of FIRST to communities around us, we dare not forget that our world is the way it is, that we have the knowledge and experience we wield today, not because our ancestors were content with what they have, but because they didn’t know and the challenges they faced.

Oh, but what joy it is to work more than 16 hours everyday that last week trying to finish the robot, driven by purpose, by goals and by dreams with your friends and families standing right next to you.
Oh, and what joy it is to face cunning opponents in the finals trying to outwit and out power them with everything you got, only to discover they are not opponents, but partners in a bigger world and a higher bar.
And what joy it is to accept an award in front of the whole audience of FIRST, realizing that people in the stands are just as happy as you are when you achieved your goals, who share the same passion and same vision in a world full of relative and trivia.

But these are experiences that cannot be taught, treasures that you must discover personally. Just like values and principles that cannot be told, that must be discovered yourself willingly, the values of FIRST must be uncovered, debated, evaluated, argued, examined, and tested over and over again, no matter what people tell you, or what you think you know.

I cannot claim that FIRST is the best direction for everyone. It is “a” direction, yet time and time again we come to realize how powerful this direction is, and an important step we’ve waited for a long time in our journey. No one can tell us that otherwise.
This may be seen as yet another step in a long journey, or the most important step you’ve ever taken, the step that you must, and will take before aiming for bigger things. This may be a combination of these things and none of them. But that will be entirely your choice.

But for once in our live time we believe in something that is good, and we can look other people in the eyes and tell them truthfully why FIRST is so important to us. For once we don’t have to be ashamed of who we are, and for once we can be proud of our dreams. There will be no distraction, no spin, no guile, and no deceit. Just standing up for your own values, presenting facts and truth, and know that both you and your audience recognize them as such.

And for once we can say “This is my choice! And this is what I want to do with my time in this world! I am a participant of the FIRST Robotics Competition, and I HAVE BEEN INSPIRED!” and mean every word we say.
And for once we will share our passion and beliefs not by forcing it down the other people’s throat, but by showing them the substances and impacts, leaving it up to them to decide whether it is worthwhile or not.

Oh we aim for the star all right. We aim for the stars every day, every season, and every year, even if you don’t recognize what you are doing.
And this year, as you have been, and as you will be, you will aim for the chairman’s award, aim to be champions, and aim for the best. And when you have done that, you will continue to, as you have been, and as you will be, aim for a bigger goal, for a bigger star, and a higher bar.

But this year, just like any other year, do not forget where you came from, where you are, and where you will be.

The Human specie was, is and will continue to be thinkers, problem solvers, and wielders of knowledge; and the human species was, is, and will continue to face tragedies, disasters, and needs; and the human species was, is, and will continue to step up to confront and triumph over these challenges.

And you, my fellow engineers, teachers, mentors, parents, and students,
you were, are, and will continue to be FIRST robotics participants; and you were, are, and will continue to grow because of your dreams, your goals, and your needs, and you were, are, and will continue to be among ranks of giants who were only curious, passionate, and cared about the world in their time.

You were, are, and will continue to shoot for the bigger star.


Good Night, and Good Luck! Go Teams!

-Ken Leung

[tiffany34990]

can i just say...wow.... another great message!!!

i just want to say: “Ad Astra Per Aspera” meaning: A Rough Road Leads to the Stars....but in the end it happens. I see it all the time in FIRST and outside of FIRST. So many bright people making their dreams a reality.
I agree so much to the statement- "always remember who you are" and also everyone who has helped you on your way...success is what you define it to be. I hope everyone finds success and happiness....I believe everyone will be.

Good luck to everyone in life and this season and every season in FIRST!

and once again... wonderful message and a round of applause to Ken. Thanks for always these great inspiring messages to the FIRST community.

[sciencenerd]

Ken Leung,

You don't know who I am, and I don't know who you are, but that isn't what is important. What is important is what you have written. What you have written, not only to yourself, not only to your friends, but to all of us who are willing to click a link, type an address, read a post. You gave this as a gift to every person on this forum, without asking anything in return. More people will read this than you or I will ever know, and most will probably not post a reply in here. But if I am right, every one of those people will go away with a little more knowledge, a little more perspective, a little more understanding. And I am here to say thank you, on behalf of all of us silent masses, for what you have done for us, what you have said to us, what you have given us. That is what the spirit of F.I.R.S.T. is all about.

-Kyle

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Ken,
Another awe inspiring, incredibly sensitive and well written post. You continue to amaze me with your ability to get your thoughts down on (electronic) paper. Thanks and good luck in the New Year.

[Conor Ryan]

someone put this in one of the greatest editorial threads ever list.

This really describes what the true meaning of FIRST is, contrary to popular belief it isn't all about the Robots and the Engineering. Its building something for the future, and thats exactly what Ken nailed on the head for the Third Consecutive time.

So if you haven't yet, take time out of your busy lives and read what Ken wrote, it really is worthy of your time.

If you haven't yet
We Aim for the Stars Part I
We Aim for the Stars Part II

Is there going to be a Part IV? I hope so

[Ken Leung]

Thank you for your support! My face is turning red and I rarely know what to say to compliments like these.

I am grateful that people are spending the time to read my messages, I understand they are often too long, and perhaps not the most effective way of communication in a busy web forum like Chief Delphi.

I am grateful because these messages are very important to me, not because I can look good in front of you guys ( ), but because of the chance to share my thoughts and passion with the great people (plus the added bonus of mental exercise every time I attempt to write a message).

Being an immigrant to the United States is not exactly easy. Being an immigrant who constantly face new worlds in just about every direction, be it cultural, academic, economical, professional, philosophical, and literature, is even less easy. At times I've found myself feeling lonely, lonely because my experience is so unique, my interest diverse and exclusive, and my point of view different among all those surrounds me.

But then I realized in the middle of all that is different and strange, I find people who share similar things with me. The passion for FIRST, for knowledge, for the world, and for the people. It brings me great joy to discover no matter how different people are, we always share or have something in common with. What brings me great relief is that when I picked up a book about giants like Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Edison, I discover aspect of myself in common with theirs, not because it makes me feel like a giant, but because it makes these giants more like human beings.

I don't know what it is the current culture is supposed to teach us about ourselves. I have no interest in pop culture, and find it difficult to relate to it with people around me. We have all these walls around us that shield our true self from the rest of the world, and the rest of the world from us. We are so narrow in our focus it is no longer easy to share our mind with others.

I don’t know what we lost, or how we lost them that made us who we are today. All I know is I want to write to break through these walls and try to share a part of me with the rest of the world, and hopefully, the rest of the world with me.

I am forever grateful to those who give my writings the time, patience, tolerance, indulgence, and understanding. The world is suddenly not so lonely anymore.