The Death of FIRST

[Patrick Wang]

I take a step back, and look at the complexity of this post.

I take another step back, and look at the complexity of FIRST.

I take just another step back, and look at how my life has changed.

Then I contemplate, boy oh boy where would I be without FIRST.

If you'll take my honest assessment of this whole situation, I think FIRST has done its job.

What has it brought out in all of us?

Sure it has been painful at times to go through the experience, but that's life, I can't believe how narrow minded I would have been had it not been for FIRST.

I'm sure you'll all agree, that regardless of your feelings regarding the experience, that you've not only learned something, but have probably done a great deal of growing up.

This tests both students and mentors. In what I believe to be the most challenging field of all, group dynamics.

If you take a step back from the madness, it ultimately boils down to this, one opinion against another.

These opinions are formed through the experience of FIRST, all regarding how one has been treated by other people.

... and you know what?

In my short three years on the team, by passing on my knowledge of not only robot building, but life in general, I have felt the most gratifying thing off all, being able to change a life.

I will also extend my gratitude up the chain, to our mentors, who without them I would not be here at this point.

Thank you Mr. Shinta, Mr. Rock, Mr. Bronstein, Mr. Sambyal, Ms. Worrall.

However, I would also like to thank those whom I've worked with. Being open-minded, respectful, and ultimately great people. Whom without I probably would not be here posting today.

Thank you Catherine, thank you Jennifer.

These names may not be familiar to you, but whoever you be, mentor or student, I'm sure you have names whom have changed your life in one way or another.

I'd like to open it up to anyone willing, to recognize those who have made an impact on our lives. (Should have waited till thanksgiving to be more correct I suppose)

Good luck to all, whereever your journey my take you.

[Anne Shade]

I read these posts after I have spent my Sunday preparing for yet another training session for our new rookie team 832. I started to ask myself why I am still doing this. I think that the FIRST program has many different levels that allow growth throughout your involvement. Through my high school career I learned many things that have brought me here to Georgia Tech to study mechanical engineering and to allow me to succeed. But I didn't stop there. I kept thinking there was more to it than just getting me interested in engineering. I decided to continue my involvement by starting a new team. That, believe it or not, has many new challenges that I had never encountered before. The politics and the challenge of having to explain things to those who have never been exposed to such a program. We had neer fully designed a robot on our own and now we were being expected to. I learned a whole lot from this experience. I think that no matter how long you are involved in this program at whatever level, you always learn something new. There are other programs once you get to college that are challenging but none have such interation between high schools and industry. Where else can you impact the lives of high school students and pass on your knowledge? I don't know when I would ever stop my involvement in FIRST. It gives me such a rush to be able to help others achieve their goals and surpass them.

[Torchin]

Ken,
I know that sometimes it seems like we over living in out funny little GRT bubble don't love and cherrish you, but we REALLY do. I know last year wasn't the best it could have been, and maybe that's because you positioned yourself more as a student, rather than as a mentor, as you should have, and as you deserve to be.
You know how it works with us. Mentors don't machine parts, they don't design. You tried to be both, and I think that maybe that's where things went a little sour for you.

I don't think, though, that FIRST died in you, Ken, I don't believe it. It's just at another stage now. You've let go of the "student" part of FIRST. You're one of the most amazing students GRT has ever had, but at the same time last year you were BEYOND student.

You know I love you ken. You're what I hope to be when I'm 30. This year I've been put in charge by some odd quirk of the voting system or something, I'm not really sure, and I know I'll be asking you for more help than you can possibly hope to give me. You said you changed some lives, and you're absolutely right. We worked together at Lockheed, and then GRT for two years. The amount you taught me, and the effect you had on me WILL last for as long as I love engineering.

With all my heart I want to thank you Ken. You've been one of the most amazing people I've ever had the privilage to meet, and I want you to know for SURE that you are not un-appriciated in the slightest. I cherrished every lesson you taught, every criticizm or praise you gave to a piece I'd made.

THANK YOU KEN! I'LL MISS YOU THIS YEAR, WHEN I'LL PROBALLY NEED YOUR HELP MORE THAN EVER! *HUGS KEN*

[Carolyn Duncan]

Originally posted by captainfirst
Anyway, I'm majoring in engineering and part of that is because of FIRST. But people, get over it, FIRST should not consume your life. Decorating your entire room with stuff from FIRST? Grow up. It's like walking around with the trophy from boys-and-girls club soccer from when you were 8.

If you want people to grow up and move on from FIRST I propose that we institute this as a policy. Now that this has been done lets look at what we have done. None of the teams have college students on them. Well, that eliminates many teams from existance. (I'm sure if someone gets bored enough they will figure out the numbers to go with my post when I'm done) Now think about the students who are missing out on being inspired. Next we look at the adults, many adults get dragged into the program by their children. Well, kiss those children buh bye because they aren't getting inspired do in turn you can eliminate the parents. Now look at the engineers that are sent to teams from sponsors. No team means no sponsors so kiss 'em good bye. Would you like me to keep going? I'm sure I can eliminate everyone else in FIRST who was not directly brought into the program by one of teh FIRST people.
I don't doubt that you have great resecpt for those who guided you through FIRST, but don't you think it would show them a little more courtesy if you don't tell them they should grow up? If everyone grew up we would never have such wonderful things as theme parks, like disney, or programs like FIRST. No one would worry about teaching kids stuff like that or making places where adults can be a kid again. I truelly hope you rethink your post.
I'm a college student who is mentoring a team and I think things are going well. Working with the machinery is one thing but answering questions about real life stuff is also a big help to them. I'm from a different state and setting as most of them. They go to a magnet school and are, comparatively, overachievers. I was a public school underachiever who skated through off common sense. They have asked me all kinds of questions about school, real life, grades, etc. It's not limmited to FIRST stuff. Think of the number of kids who would just go out with friends and get into trouble if they didn't participate in FIRST. I'm glad to be able to say I spend all the extra time with FIRST. I used to spend it on coaching soccer. Both are great things to do. If it means that I'm still a child not yet into the cruel adult world then so be it. But I'd like to stay in my childish place, if it means that I get to take my teams cardboard cut out of Woodie to random places and photograph it. I truely think it's a shame that you had to grow up and leave all the fun behind. I'm willing to take up your left behind fun and keep on truckin'. So while yo uhave fun in your world I'll have fun in mine and I'm sure we'll both be happy in the end.
BTW, David...
I love the pics of your FIRST room. They are really great. Keep the collection growing so you can make it into an enitre house one day.
And of course I can't leave this out... mad props to you Ken!
Anton, I think FIRST will be different without you, I know the board will.

[mdoshi]

I thoughts on some of the topics in this thread...

I am high school senior, and, although I do not plan on starting my own team in college, I do plan on helping mentor a team at a high school, who was a rookie this year, in the city of my college. I don't expect to take over or be thier leader. I do not want recognition or anything else...I just want to share my experience with them.

I think FIRST has affected me in a way that nothing else could have. No, FIRST did not inspire to become an engineer. I am going into Journalism. Does that mean that FIRST failed me, or more like, I failed FIRST? No, I don't believe that. I learned so much from being a part of my team. FIRST teaches us things like organization skills, how to work as a team, teaches us to accept rejections AND sucesses. As the captian of my team, I feel like I gave all I could to my team, and what an experience I had. From the late nights, to the excitment of competiton, the dissapointments of loosing, to the nerve recking moments before they announced the Chairman's Award winner and the tears that filled our teams eyes after winning, I enjoyed every moment of it.

I don't think FIRST will ever die in me. Sure, other things will take over, but I think, and I truly hope, that FIRST will be a part of me, because it was a big part of my high school experience and I dont think that I can forget it so easily. I truly want to keep FIRST a part of my life. One of my future hopes is to be a judge.

And about the having a FIRST decorated room...get this. Three of our team members got our team summation (which we used in our buttons and hoodies this year, equals our team number) tatooed on thier shoulders. A few more members are concidering. I dont think they will ever forget thier hard work and dedication to our team.

[Greg Needel]

holy thread resurrection batman......Brandon aren't threads this old supposed to be permanently locked?

[mdoshi]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

holy thread resurrection batman......Brandon aren't threads this old supposed to be permanently locked?

wow, i didnt even notice this tread was that old...i just saw it at the bottom, and it looked interesting, so i read it and replied...didnt even bother looking at the dates...

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by mdoshi

wow, i didnt even notice this tread was that old...i just saw it at the bottom, and it looked interesting, so i read it and replied...didnt even bother looking at the dates...

There's a more recent thread on a related topic here.

[Lil' Lavery]

It's actually kind of interesting to see how topics have changed (or not) over the years.