pic: Team 1114 Teaser

[Beth Sweet]

Ok, I'm going to say this and then I beg that we go back to making fun of Karthik for putting a box on his head

In this society, we encourage people to be the best. Then, when they become the best, we rip them down, accusing them of being inappropriately at the top. We always want to cheer on the underdog, and to bring down the people at the top. Why do we bother to encourage rising to the top if we try to bring down those who are there?

I'm going to challenge everyone to try to get over their pride. Instead of whining, complaining and accusing, open your eyes and look. There's a reason they're at the top. It's because they're good. Instead of (man do I wish what I wanted to say wouldn't be bleaped here) whining, figure out what makes them so good. Talk to the people, whomever those people are, who designed, who built that component. The engineering talent in this program, and on team 1114 in particular, is fantastic. Do you want to be inspired? Walk into 1114's pit, into 111's, into 71's pits. Tell them that you want to know how things work, that you want to learn from the best. I guarantee you that any of these teams will be happy to explain. This is where you should draw your inspiration.

It is wonderful to be inspired by pulling off something by the seat of your pants, trust me, I've been there. But the real inspiration in this program is the engineering. Let yourself be inspired by the best. If you allow this, you will be giving yourself one of the best gifts that this program offers.

Now, let's continue making fun of Karthik's new hat