Lesson Learned: The Negative

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Amanda Morrison

• I was lucky to be on a team in 2002 that won the Championship. As a high school senior, I cannot tell you what a profound experience it was to walk on stage, receive our trophies and medals, hug Woodie and Dean, and get the recognition from other competing teams. This year, the stands were emptying before the last half of the last finals match. An announcement was made for teams to head over to the FIRST Finale immediately after the match completed and the score announced. I was extremely saddened that my students were not able to have a similar experience for their hard work and effort as that which profoundly changed my life. Their win was trivialized - yes, confetti and streamers, but having a teacher hand you your medal in the abandoned pit area shortly before you get on the bus is anti-climactic compared to the team walking across Einstein or the stage and receiving recognition for their effort to get to that point. Seeing thousands of people in the stands and realizing what an extreme honor is being placed upon you is a truly epic moment in a child's life. While I know my students were exceptionally happy and excited for the honor, I had only wished they could have been given the opportunity that I was lucky enough to experience.

I think this is an easy thing to fix. Most people by then are hungry, tired, and want to get out of the seats. Why not move the giving of metals to teams at the wrap party right before the fireworks? Right there up on stage, with banners and trophies, then everyone can scream "GO FIRST!" and the fireworks will begin. Get Dean, Woodie, and everyone up on stage for it too.