Gracious Professionalism?

[Brandon Holley]

After spending countless hours working on your robot/strategy/presentations and going to an event and coming home empty handed, its much easier to say "So and so won because they have more money" or "So and so won because they have more mentors" etc. etc.

The point is most of the time these are snap judgments based on no factual evidence besides you being upset your team did not "win".

The few really motivated students out there will see another team win that may have more money or mentors or whatever it may be and say "Hey, why can't we have that?". That student will then be motivated to gain better financial backing, mentor support, community resources etc.

Quite honestly, I don't really listen to anything someone says about another team (good or bad), unless I know for a fact that particular person has worked first hand with the said team (which is hardly ever). Its very easy to make blanket statements from afar, but after being in FIRST for 10 years, I know how pointless that is because in all honesty it accomplishes nothing but giving yourself an excuse for shortcomings.

-Brando