Is It Possible to Take FIRST too seriously?

[Koko Ed]

My wife certainly thinks so.
I probably do but I don't care because it's so much fun (and it is helpful to so many people. Kids and even adults).

[Steve W]

Nope, I'm not addicted.................... MUCH

I struggle with this issue all of the time. I have a problem with saying no. It becomes really hard when I really enjoy what I am being asked to do. I sometimes get burnt out (at least twice a year) and become more grumpy that usual. This does not bode well for me or the program. We must all balance ourselves and if you have problems doing that we must find someone that we believe in to put a hand on our shoulder and hold us back. FIRST can become all consuming. Take my advice and do not let it take over your life. Make it a big part and you will benefit huge but let it take over and you lose.

Now back to more CD.

[JohnBoucher]

Seriously Yes. It can be a problem. You need to balance things. We try and do non-robot things as a team just to break the tension.

[chris31]

Yes it can. And I always thank my none robotics freinds for letting me put them on the back burner when I need to go do robotics work and cant hang out. And also when I start streaming out robotics ideas and the listen even though I know they have no idea what I am talking about. FIRST is great but everything in life needs to be balanced. Also, when you grades start dropping you might need to not commit so much time to FIRST.

[Sean Schuff]

Don't take life too seriously. You'll never get out of it alive. - Elbert Hubbard

I suppose this could be modified to replace "life" with "FIRST". While I think that FIRST is a phenomonal experience for all who are involved in it, I agree with what others have said here - you need balance. Does that mean that you can't be serious and intense about robotics? No. Actually I prefer to refer to it as passionate. I'm passionate about my family, my faith, my career, my students, and FIRST. They are all important things to me and I do my best to prioritize and balance them effectively.

Those who think we're a bit loopy because of our passion for FIRST have either never experienced it first-hand or just don't get it. And, as the saying goes, we mock that which we do not understand.

Bottom line - keep your passion for FIRST and don't let others spoil your fun!

Sean

[Joel J]

Yea, you can take FIRST too seriously, as with most things. FIRST, while great, has its place, and certain things should take priority. Good luck prioritizing, you'll probably need it.

[Bill Moore]

Originally Posted by Steve W

Nope, I'm not addicted.................... MUCH

I struggle with this issue all of the time. I have a problem with saying no. It becomes really hard when I really enjoy what I am being asked to do. I sometimes get burnt out (at least twice a year) and become more grumpy that usual. This does not bode well for me or the program. We must all balance ourselves and if you have problems doing that we must find someone that we believe in to put a hand on our shoulder and hold us back. FIRST can become all consuming. Take my advice and do not let it take over your life. Make it a big part and you will benefit huge but let it take over and you lose.

Now back to more CD.

Steve touches on a good point here. Basically, there are two types of stress that we deal with: Good Stress happens when we are energized and invigorated, and all those pleasant brain chemicals are released -- this is what FIRST should be. Bad Stress occurs when things seem to become chaotic and out of our control -- this is what FIRST should not become. Steve has specifically mentioned burnout, and that is one area of bad stress that many of us will go through during the upcoming season. Mentally, step back away from the program once in a while and consider whether the task has become one you find unenjoyable. If it has, seek out others on your team who will still view it as a welcome challenge. Working on an unenjoyable task often will close your mind to the myriad solutions that may be available.

One method we use to keep the "good stress" on our team is to recognize accomplishments every evening during the business portion of our meetings. Whether it's a breakthrough design for a robot component, or the realization that a brainstormed idea isn't going to pan out and a change of direction is needed, something significant is being accomplished continuously. This period of recognition allows us to celebrate the work being done by the students on each of our sub-teams, and in turn invigorates and encourages that sub-team to go and accomplish even more.

Recognition and respect for each others accomplishments is a key component to developing fully as a team.

[Andrew Blair]

Good points that have already been brought up: FIRST becomes an unhealthy addiction as soon as it becomes an unalterable priority, or important beyond the scope of everyday life.

As far as being extremely interested in it, devoting time to it- thats fine. No different than kids shooting hoops whenever they have time, or even reading. It is a constructive use of time, but like anything, when it grasps hold of your entire motivation and initiative, you've gone to far. I have. Just remember to pull the reigns back a bit!

[fabbuki]

Thanks for the advice, you guys rock.

-fabbuki

[LauraN]

It's possible to take anything too seriously, and that's always a bad thing. =P

Aside from what others have said about priorities, I'd add that you need to remember to keep things in perspective. It can be easy to get carried away and lose sight of the actual purpose of what you're doing. If you're going crazy trying to design the most innovative drivetrain you can imagine, that's cool and all, but not if you turn into some crazy person who yells at anyone who disagrees with you and has stopped learning and inspiring others. (An extreme example, but you get the idea.)

In high school I had a conversation with one of my mentors about keeping perspective during rough times and laughing at life, and he told me something that he said he always advised his kids: If it's worth doing, it's worth laughing about.

If you're not laughing anymore, then yeah, you're taking FIRST too seriously.

[BandChick]

I think Greg made a wonderful point; there are times when you CAN take FIRST too seriously. If you're in it for the fun, the experience, and the knowledge, then it's okay to take a break sometimes. You will still get a TON from this program, even if you sit back and breathe for a few hours a day. It's GREAT that you have such a passion for the program, run with that, but remember to take a break once in a while.

[TubaMorg]

Well it seems that most of the previous posters have pretty much said the same thing ad nauseum, so there is nothing further to add there. As a mentor, however, I would have LOVED to had a few of the team members (aside from adults) study the rules and all their permutations. I am always begging them to learn the rules...puhleeeeeze read the rules! Even some of the mentors on our team seem to lack in this department. I feel like I have to constantly monitor the build to ensure no rules are being violated. So my motto is, if you are going to do something, go all the way and do it right!

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

I believe you are too addicted when you start letting opportunities pass you by.

Right now may not be the best time for this, but sometime take a step back from FIRST and force yourself to take in every possibility around you. Discover something new, take a vacation, and when you are ready, come back with 150% effort and a little more wisdom.

[Bharat Nain]

Last year, I took FIRST way too seriously. I made it my first priority with everything. Yeah... it did bring about chairmans and the championship and all that, but it screwed up a lot of other things - and the process wasnt entirely fun. To a point, I even ignored friends and family. Was it worth it? I ask myself all the time. But my suggestion is not to take FIRST that seriously and learn to have fun with other things and keep the other things at a higher priority than FIRST(Like your school work, even though you learn more in FIRST). Addiction to almost anything is bad, so learn to control yourself and your life. Don't let an addiction control you and your life.

[AndyB]

In my opinion, everyone is a little obsessed with something. Having a FIRST obsession is much better than having a crack addiction...