"I'm not that smart"

[JaneYoung]

If I may, passion will help get through school - but smart goes a long way towards achieving that degree. We need our smart people. We need our brilliant people. We also need to remember that sometimes there are those who are forming/deciding who they are and what they are made of and they may not think they have what it takes. That is when passion and support can help them engage. We need our JVNs and Karthiks. We need our Andy Bakers and Dave Laverys. We need our MGoelzs and our KathieKs. Everyone can contribute, can care, can make a difference on a team and in this thing called FIRST. That's the point.

[Beth Sweet]

Normally when I get something like that (which people rarely say to me, imagine that...) I point to my hair and share a story such as the time I tripped over my own feet and broke my nose falling down a flight of stairs, or didn't look very well while walking, and dented the wall running into it. The closer? "And hey, they've let me be in FIRST for 6 years now!"

I agree with the other posters, give a story about how you don't have to be... say, a rocket scientist... to be in FIRST!

[cooker52]

Leave it up to Gracie to come up with a thread that get's everyone's attention. I think I'll post my response after the quotes.

Originally Posted by SafetyGracie

I told him that not many people come on to our robotics team knowing what they're doing, and we train people to learn the skills that we use to build the bot. As long as you show an interest, you can become a part of the team and join whatever subteam you want to, and we'll get you the skills necessary.

Gracie, that is one of the best response I have heard for this situation. And I've heard a lot (especially looking down this thread). Good job!

Originally Posted by SafetyGracie

Yeah, we always try to show them Samir. =)

This is Samir, he can be a goofball sometimes (last I checked, he was in our team uniform and going to ride that bot around the fair).

Originally Posted by tennispro9911

Our team tries to explain that we will go through and teach incoming members all of the basics they need to succeed and that there are many different positions and needs on the team other than just building robots. Every member will make contributions in what they enjoy doing and are good at doing. We are a team that needs lots of people who are different and not just the "genius and nerd."

We really are pushing that this year and making sure people know it. If they are remotely interested in what we do, we encourage them and try to find a place they fit in.

Originally Posted by SafetyGracie

We kind of have that situation. There is a kid on our team with a mental disability(it's mild) but we still find things for him to do. He deburs and rivets and some other stuff. He enjoys it, and he's still putting something in for the team, so no one minds really.

We have a couple like that. But I don't know many times they don't try to find something to help with. And with a lot of holes and rivets, it isn't hard.

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

I like the word, potential.

Potential, everyone has it. That's the way I try to see things around here. It's not that hard at all. Find what they're good at and build on it.

Originally Posted by JesseK

I think along these lines as well. My response would be "Sure you are! You just haven't realized it yet."

That's catchy, I think it would get a lot of people encouraged to join.

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

Smart is a relative term. Everyone is smart about something, but still dense about others. Once people realize that they have potential to be smart at anything, nothing can stop them.

I have found that to be true in each person I have found. Whether they can draw, do math, sketch awesome ideas, or even talk, I haven't found anyone who isn't smart.

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

Holy Cow, this thread has more WOW quotes than any I have read in several years.

I don't know about several years, but I read it with my mouth open the entire time. Then to realize who started it, I'm impressed.

When I talk to someone who is interested in what we are doing, I'll start to talk to them, kinda make friends with them. When I show them stuff on the robot, I'll simplify some of the names to help them understand, and I still may not know what it's called either, but I know it is definitely a thingy that does this or that. As they become more interested or start to shy off, especially with the classic "I'm not that smart", I'll pull out what they're good at and then make it fit in the team. It is hard to not find something they aren't good at or don't like to do. They can all fit in.

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

If I may, passion will help get through school - but smart goes a long way towards achieving that degree. We need our smart people. We need our brilliant people. We also need to remember that sometimes there are those who are forming/deciding who they are and what they are made of and they may not think they have what it takes. That is when passion and support can help them engage. We need our JVNs and Karthiks. We need our Andy Bakers and Dave Laverys. We need our MGoelzs and our KathieKs. Everyone can contribute, can care, can make a difference on a team and in this thing called FIRST. That's the point.

Yes, you may.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

If I may, passion will help get through school - but smart goes a long way towards achieving that degree. We need our smart people. We need our brilliant people. We also need to remember that sometimes there are those who are forming/deciding who they are and what they are made of and they may not think they have what it takes. That is when passion and support can help them engage. We need our JVNs and Karthiks. We need our Andy Bakers and Dave Laverys. We need our MGoelzs and our KathieKs. Everyone can contribute, can care, can make a difference on a team and in this thing called FIRST. That's the point.

I wont argue that we don't need smart people but I feel that passion and a strong dose of being willing to learn can often be just as potent.

Slightly off topic comment here: Don't forget that if a person isn't interested in robots there are still like a billion things to do on a team that don't involve robots. We have the problem on our team (dilemma would be a better word) that only one student wants to play an active role in the robot, the rest do awards or animation or website. Mentioning the non-technical side of things can often bring you people who would not normally give you a second thought. At demos and stuff perhaps off the ability to play in 3ds or at least show an animation. FIRST isn't all technical and doesn't always require engineers.

[gorrilla]

our team has a whole section on our website just for this as well as a brochure we hand out at events and things we do to attract people or potential sponsors

this is the who we are section of our website

http://www.12voltbolt.com/who.php


i think it explains clearly what you can accomplish even if you aren't a "nerd" or "geek"

[Branden Ghena]

My response has always been:

"Can you hit something with a hammer? If you can do that then join robotics, and we can teach you the rest."

[Akash Rastogi]

Can we have this stickied or put in the rookie resource section (or any resource section?)

I had this response today. My best example is of a couple highly dedicated athletes who are among the top students on the team. It helps dispel the rumor that you have to be insanely smart.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Damien1247

I wont argue that we don't need smart people but I feel that passion and a strong dose of being willing to learn can often be just as potent.

Agreed. 'Potent' is a great way to put that as well.

[Lions for First]

when someone said this to me at an open house this summer i said:
"can you put together a nut and bolt"
"yes"
"well then you could have built our frame"

[christina_omg]

i get that response from girls a lot...

it doesn't help that I'm a female member of our team so for a girl who I'm trying to get to join to tell me 'I'm not smart' enough for that is frustrating. I go to a tech high school and i remember at an open house event for incoming freshman cosmetology had a spot across from ours. i was talking seriously to these two girls when their teacher came over and was like 'they're doing nails over there'. they ran away from me. what got me mad though was the fact that the teacher shied these girls away from something so rewarding.

but yea. people have this perception of robots as like, the terminator.
you don't have to be a super genius to do this stuff.

[Foster]

I tell the Vex kids the only requirement is knowing your left from your right, we will teach them the rest. On the big bot, the ability to hit things with a hammer is a bonus

[Protronie]

I would say, " You bring what you know, and a willingness to learn, and we'll help you. Then break it down to something I'm sure that would understand like joining a football team.

You start out knowing little or just the basics... and through practice and drills you become a player.

Also assure them that nobody on the team will look down on them and everyone willing to teach them something.
Don't forget to mention that theres a job for everyone on a team.

[RyanN]

I get this problem all the time and also the "Dang smart kid." thing as well. Really, people think of robots being complicated and hard to make (go figure...) Really, it's all about your talents and focus to achieve certain goals. When people think of football or any other physical sports, they think "Muscle is the way to go" when really, smarts matter just as much.

I find that most people that say "I'm not that smart" don't want to get involved with something they're not sure they'll like. My best friend last summer said basically the same exact thing, but I told him that there is something for everyone. He ended up being on the 3D max crew on Fusion and really enjoyed the whole experience. He said that he wishes he had gotten involved 4 years ago when I first asked him.

So basically, the people that say "I'm not that smart" don't know what FIRST robotics is all about. Give them some examples of stuff we do.

If they like video games, tell them they're good for a driver.
If they like wiring stuff up, then it's self explanatory... Electrical!
If they like photoshop or video editing, tell them photography, 3Dmax, Autodesk.....
If they like hammering and bashing, tell them they're good for the pit crew.
I'm sure I'm missing plenty of stuff here, but those are some good examples. Tell them to come one day to really see how it works. Explain things to them in simple terms (The robot controller sends a signal to the speed control to make the motor turn) Don't go in depth with PWM cables, polarity, or anything somewhat complicated right off the bat. Start simple.

Ask them why they don't think they're smart enough. They will most likely not be able to answer the question, or just give a general answer. Ask them about what they're good at and how they got good at it. They'll answer practice, or if they don't, ask them if practice helped them. Tell them it's the same way with robotics. Practice makes perfect!

There is really so much on a robotics team to do, that even with 25 members of Team Fusion, I find myself extremely busy and often wondering what I'm going to do next year when I go to college. It will be hard to mentor my team from 300 miles away, but there is a team off the campus of my college that need help. I got many calls from past members last year asking me about the electrical and programming helping that team.

[ShadowofaCat]

First off. Just reading this thread is inspiring. I came into robotics off of a recommendation. I honestly have a hard time with some math things in school and find myself saying "I'm not that smart".

Smart honestly is a relative term. When some people think smart. They think "math". But FIRST has shown me that its so many more things.
It's given me the self-confidence because even though i'm not "smart at" math, i understand how things work and i can help out my team and other people.

Originally Posted by RyanN

If they like video games, tell them they're good for a driver.
If they like wiring stuff up, then it's self explanatory... Electrical!
If they like photoshop or video editing, tell them photography, 3Dmax, Autodesk.....
If they like hammering and bashing, tell them they're good for the pit crew.

Comes to show its not if you are "smart" but what you are "smart at"

[RyanN]

Originally Posted by ShadowofaCat

Comes to show its not if you are "smart" but what you are "smart at"

Exactly my point. Robotics has so much to offer that if you are just "smart at" one thing, then FIRST probably offers it. Thanks for clearing up my point. I couldn't have said that better myself.