FIRST: the incredible community

[Matt Krass]

Originally Posted by Jane

So, how does one learn/grow from that Matt? How can we help students grow in this area?

Sorry for delay, college is busy...

I learned my lesson when a week later when we had to fundraise doubly hard and we hadn't heard anything else from the prospective sponsor. I sent an apology letter, hand written in, and received a note of forgiveness, but no sponsorship. As it stands that team is still without a sponsor, who knows what difference it may have made if I had been a little more accepting.

Meanwhile, remember, engineers do this for a living, they went to school for this, there's a pretty good chance they know what they're talking about. And if you do disagree with them, which is perfectly alright, present your thoughts in a respectable manner and work with them to find the solution. There's nothing wrong with needing help, that's why we have mentors.

Just for kicks, my FIRST celebrity blunder list:
- Walked along the tunnel between fields and pits in Atlanta 05, complaining about how certain parts of the event were handled, loudly, not noticing Dave Lavery motoring behind me quietly on a Segway trying to get past the raving teenager. (Sorry Dave)

- Bumped in to Woodie at UTC regional (twice) almost knocking him over once. I was trying to say Hi.

- Nearly taking out Deans eye with a microphone during the FIRSTcast interviews...twice or three times...

- Countless stumbles when I talk to Andy Baker

- Spraying instead of saying because I was so excited to talk to Chris Hibner (Who probably doesn't even remember me)

- Tripping over a crate platform when going to congratulate Paul Copioli

So... yeah... My first impressions are pretty bad