Kick-Off 2010 - Who's Excited And What Is A Skill That You Want To Develop?

[JaneYoung]

I'm very excited that the 2010 FRC season is about to begin. One of the thoughts that I've been thinking about this year is how I can be a better team member on 418.

First up - I'm going to spend more time listening and paying attention in team meetings and planning sessions.

What are some of your plans for the upcoming season?

Jane

[Chris is me]

I'm unbelievably excited. For Kickoff, I'm staying with some of my former teammates (now mentees, technically?) on 1714, so as I type this post I'm packing my overnight bag. Something oddly thrilling about packing that gets me pumped...

As a person, I plan on working on my teaching and assisting skills. I've always had a bit of trouble showing someone a concept instead of just doing it for them, so hopefully when assisting team 2791 this year I'll get better at the skill of teaching.

As a FIRSTer, I didn't do much programming last year, and I hope to step that up this year. Hopefully I'll be able to both learn from and teach my peers on 2791.

[vic burg]

I'm looking forward to being as helpful as possible at the Florida Regional this year. And maybe making my way up to North Carolina? Although I am more likely to go to Championships this year.
I am also going to try to mentor my alumni team this year. Last year did not work out so well because I was so busy. This year is going to be hard as well because of classes but I am determined to help them out.

I am missing Kickoff though.... but only so I can Emcee for an FLL Tournament! My first time ever, so I am hoping that I do good!

[EricVanWyk]

My favorite part of kick off is that all of my friends fly in to visit me once a year. Its like a birthday that I have to share with a robot (and since I share my actual birthday with my sister, that doesn't feel so weird).

I think that there will be a good gasp of "we can do THAT?!", and I'm psyched to hear it.

[Taylor]

I can't recall being more excited about a kickoff. Honestly it scares me quite a bit.

Personally, I will do my best to understand all options and exhaust all possibilities, especially early in the build season. It is too easy to lock into a specific way of thinking or designing; I have fallen into that trap before and don't wish to do it again.

[vic burg]

Originally Posted by Taylor

I can't recall being more excited about a kickoff. Honestly it scares me quite a bit.

I think my first year I was like that. But I'm sure in 2014 I will be like that because that will be my 10th kick-off. Which, does not seem that far away.... still can't get over this is my 6th year in FIRST.... 'Tis insane.

[ttldomination]

Considering this is my senior year, I'm especially excited for tomorrow's kick-off.

Plus, I haven't been 100% on FRC in the past two years, but this year, I'm 100% on board and I look forward to working with some really brilliant team members.

[MrForbes]

Originally Posted by EricVanWyk

I think that there will be a good gasp of "we can do THAT?!"

The gasp I'm more familiar with is "HOW are we gonna do THAT?!??"

I'd like to have more motivation skills....sure would be neat to figure out how to be a leader

[StephLee]

I am getting an entire semester's worth of kick off excitement crammed into just a few days; I purposefully stayed away from FIRST last semester to avoid getting distracted from some tough classes. Now I'm really excited to be back with my high school team for kick-off tomorrow!

The skill I'd like to develop is how to maintain both schoolwork AND active FIRST participation, even if it's only posting on CD. I'm in my second half of my second year of college now, and I finally feel like I'm ready to try balancing FIRST with schoolwork. Here goes!

[Nick Lawrence]

This year, I'm going to work on being more patient with freshman and rookies on our team this year. In years past, I held this idea that others would catch on to the program and have the expirence I had, right from the getgo. Considering this is my 6th year in FIRST, 3rd year in FRC, I had more experience in my rookie year of FRC than my teammates did. I wasn't used to the idea of other FIRSTers not knowing the true values of FIRST, and what the program is really about.

So, I'm going to try to be more patient with rookies, and explain things to them.

-Nick

[ICntIHaveRbtics]

SEN10R YEAR!
&& my 6th year with FIRST.
resolution? be more involved with building again! I used to love it, but last year I was needed to plan out the trip to nationals, so I didn't get as much hands on as years past.

also, I'm DETERMINED to get the town to pass our warrant article for $7k of funding for the robotics team. after 8 years of no support, I'm not moving until this town finally gives a little support. if we can accomplish that, then I'll feel more at ease when I move to VA.

I feel like since our team had a crummy year last year, this year we're just going to blow the roof off. Now we have mistakes we can learn from which will make us even better than before.

[EricVanWyk]

Originally Posted by StephLee

I am getting an entire semester's worth of kick off excitement crammed into just a few days; I purposefully stayed away from FIRST last semester to avoid getting distracted from some tough classes.

Can you mentor me on this technique?

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

First up - I'm going to spend more time listening and paying attention in team meetings and planning sessions.

Jane, you're one of the best listeners I know. Maybe it's the paying attention in meetings part you need to work on, if you think you have been lacking.

I'm going to try to be a little more gracious with the tournament staff when things don't go right at events.

[Karibou]

I'm looking to improve both my time management and general leadership skills this year. I'd like to actually have the motivation to do some of my homework (I DO have the time. Just not the motivation), and possibly snag a job so that I'll have some money.

I also really need work on leading rather than just doing. I've got the same habit that Chris does: doing instead of teaching. As a team leader and a junior, I need to start passing on what I've learned and start taking a little more of a hands-off approach. As a mentor told me yesterday, the attitude that he wants the captains to take this year is more of a "welcome to mentoring" standpoint.

[DanDon]

Originally Posted by EricVanWyk

Can you mentor me on this technique?

Agreed, Eric. I've tried to stay away and managed mostly but FIRST has still managed to break through, in specifically, ChiefDelphi .

As for this year, I'm extremely excited and looking forward to an awesome build season. I'm personally going to try and get more students involved to a greater extent rather than have just a core group of students and a bunch on the sidelines.

I'm also going to try to balance two jobs (One retail and one database management) as well as full-time schooling AND FRC. It's promising to be an interesting semester .