"I'm not that smart"

[Elgin Clock]

Obviously you don't want to respond with "you don't have to be smart" because as AndyB stated, it doesn't give the program the justice it deserves & it comes off like you are agreeing that they aren't smart without even knowing them. Not the best way to start things off with anyone.

I'm curious about the ages of the boys who gave that response to you. Answers may vary depending on how old the person is who says that to you, but the following will work for anyone I'm sure.

All you need to do in these situations is to turn it around on them & give the hope that even folks who don't think they are smart can succeed in the program, & that everyone has potential for turning themselves into one of the "smart ones" if they just want to step up & take that challenge upon themselves with some help from joining a team of course.

A lot of the time in FIRST it's not what you have when you enter the program, but what you gain from being in it.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Obviously you don't want to respond with "you don't have to be smart" because as AndyB stated, it doesn't give the program the justice it deserves & it comes off like you are agreeing that they aren't smart without even knowing them. Not the best way to start things off with anyone.

In what was does it not give the program justice? By starting with that, you've almost left no way to reply.

I must've offended a lot of people in my time, 'cause I've heard this line and given more or less the same answer every time; you don't have to be smart, and you'll get out what you put in. I can even think of some members who joined, and ended up being extremely valuable members.