Which aspect of FIRST gives you the most inspiration?

[ctorloey]

PEOPLE
People are the most inspirational part for me. Going to the regionals and then the Championship was exciting, and the reason that i joined my team was only to build a robot because I wanted a hobbie. Just all the passion that the teams put into FIRST is amazing by itself. Next year I know that I will be joining because of the people. I got friends to meet next year and all the stuff that goes on at the hotels and during the build season keeps a smile on my face 24/7. Seeing everyone during a match cheering on thier team is the best part because I get to see people like me. I know when I get older I will find a team I could be a mentor on or find a regional to help out at.

[henryBsick]

As inspiring as the people of FIRST are, at the end of the day they do not motivate or inspire me to full effect. Dean Kamen for example, has many great inventions and started of course, FIRST. The fact that he has done this is cool, more power to him, and thanks really; but because I see him and his success, I do not get fully inspired to engineer. The application of my hard work is what inspires me to the utmost, thusly: the competitions. The thoughts that I think around that inspiration point are "Yeah, wow... look at what I just did. That is awesome, I can definitely see myself doing this [for life]."
I vote competition and not robot because of the application portion... it does it for me. Also, I'm not saying the robots aren't inspiring... the comp. just takes the cake.

*I am just using Dean as an example, Dean is one of the greatest innovators of our time and would never look down upon his accomplishments.


$.02

[JudyVandy]

The PEOPLE!

Everything else is a tool to help the people happen. Seeing the growth in kids over the years (and yes, in the adults, too), is absolutely astounding! I see it best in my team members and the alums who return, but I also see it in the other young men and women I've grown to know over the years that I've been involved with this program. It puts stars in kids' eyes and gives so many the tools and confidence to reach for those stars. When I look at the teams that are mentored, and were even begun, by former team members, I am amazed and humbled. (Yes, Mike and Greg, I'm talking about you!)

If I'm ever asked about the part of my educational career of which I'm most proud, like Dean, I must say my association with FIRST. The people make it so...

[Herodotus]

It's the people. One scenario I've seen a number of times is let's say team 1 and 2 are duking it out and team 1 tips team 2's bot during the match. I often see at the end of the match team 1 run over to help team 2 and see if they need any help fixing the bot even though they had just tipped them. It was an accident so both teams are working together to set things right. If that isn't inspirational I don't know what is.

[JaneYoung]

The pie is FIRST.
Each piece: competition, travel, people, robot
helps make up the whole of the pie.

Add to that -
Outreach - those we work with and expose to FIRST.
Developing partnerships on an on-going basis.
Fundraising, marketing, promotion - developing aspects of the team that will help students understand the process more clearly - that things don't just happen to make a team - a team.

I could never choose just one. For me, it is the pie, the whole.

Also, I have a great deal of respect for the struggle. Whether we are veterans or rookies, have competed on Einstein, or dream the dream of competing on Einstein - we have all struggled to achieve, to learn, to succeed as FIRST teams/members of FIRST.

Jane

[MGoelz]

I think the most inspirational part of FIRST is the competitions, because it takes all of the other things to make it a competition. At a competition, you have all of the passionate individuals that sacrifice incomprehensible amounts of time into making everything work, whether that be directly correlated to the robot, or outreach and sponsorships to keep the team running.
Then you get the opportunity to see what all of our hard work has done, and compare it to what other teams came up with. Competitions were a big eye-opener to me, especially being a freshman, because I could see all of the different approaches to the same problem, to reach similar goals, but each in its own unique and innovative way. It's remarkable, the ideas that make their way into your mind at a competition, especially while scouting. There is so much to learn, so many people to meet, and a ton of robots to examine and admire.
(And of course, you still have your own team to bond with. )

[Akash Rastogi]

The most important part of FIRST for me is the relationships that you form with your team and other FIRSTers. I don't know if you guys understand what I'm talking about , but I always felt a connection with previous team members, such as brothers and friends, and to the great mentors themselves. I truly love the people around me and would give up anything to continue working with them.