FIRST and Success: A Question of Definition

[Madison]

Okay, so, rather than watch another thread go down the toilet, I decided to start this topic and see where it goes. The Championship threads still hold some relevance to FIRST and I'd like to see them remain open. I hope the same for this, as well.

I've seen a lot of people involved in FIRST talk some about the right and wrong reasons for being in the program.

Personally, I don't think I'm capable of fully understanding everyone's reason for being in FIRST, nor do I think it's my place to judge the value of those reasons I do understand. As such, I tend to err toward the liberal end of the spectrum when it comes to issues of questionable participation, commitment or success.

So, I'm wondering how other people feel about this issue. How do you or your team define success? Is it sending kids to college? Is it changing their career choices? Is it making them smile? In my mind, there are too many possibilities to count. I'm really curious as to how other people gauge success.

What is the message?

Has FIRST outgrown Dean's vision? If Dean were to announce tomorrow that kids who join just for the hope of going to Walt Disney World are in this for the wrong reason, would his word become law? Or, would you question it?

I guess, really, I'm trying to get a sense of exactly how far FIRST's potential has extended. If you've read anything I've written recently, you'd know that I think the potential to save and change and enrich lives through FIRST exists in venues far more varied that robotics, science, or technology.

I'm sorry there aren't more concrete explanations of exactly what I'm trying to grasp, here. If you think you understand, run with it. If not, well, I guess that's okay, too.