A word for everyone.....

[lallamavolador]

I have seen many posts lately that are complains about the game. Every team built a great it to be happy because winning isn't everything. I think it is great that we have an opportunity to compete in FIRST, many people don't have that opportunity. We all worked hard on our robot and build it in 6 weeks, if your robot didn't do as well as you expected don't worry. Sometimes you might get discouraged when you see other robots that you look at them an all you can say is "WOW", be happy and cheer for your team. Going to the competition and seeing your robot functioning should be the greatest reward of all.

FIRST isn't only about winning, it is about making friends, gracious professionalism, and having fun. Winning is just a bonus. Everyone should be very proud of their accomplishment. Our team attended Florida Regional this year and I learned something, you don't need to have the best robot to win. The alliance that won used great game strategy. I also must say that I truly admire team 1902 (Exploding Bacon), although this was their first year they were finalists, this shows that you really don't need to be an old team with hundreds of sponsors to win. For everyone, winning isn't everything, it is what you get out of the whole experience is what is very important.

Let me share this story from a couple of years ago. A few years ago our team discovered when we opened the crate that the whole inside body of the robot was missing and all that was left was the frame. The team worked all through practice day with the help of other people to get something to work. The whole competition the robot would simply sit there and twitch, our team never lost hope and spirit, we won the spirit award despite what had happened.

For those people that still haven't been to regionals good luck and remember be proud of your robot no matter what happens.