A Narrative of how FIRST Changes Lives

[Vincent Chan]

Maybe it's time I do something positive on these boards. I know I've been negative lately, and I think it's time for me to try and highlight the GOOD things that I've found in FIRST. I know it's changed my life; I'd love to hear how it has changed yours. Not how you've met a CEO for fifteen minutes, or talked to Dean Kamen or Woodie Flowers over at your pits. I'd really like to hear how FIRST has changed you from who you were and who you would be to who you are and who you will be.

Now, sit in for a read:

FIRST has taught me a great deal about life, even as a rookie. I've learned that anything can be accomplished with enough dedication (and sleep deprivation). I had never thought that I would be able to build something that would constitute a robot, much less in two and a half weeks with but a few other kids. First semester, when a friend of mine introduced me to the idea of joining a robotics team, I wasn't quite sure what I was in for. With his hard work and the help of a teacher, he pieced together what was to become an amazing experience for all of us.

I went into my winter break thinking I'd scarcely have anything to do with robotics at all. In all honesty, I wasn't much interested, and I'd dismissed it as just another goofy school-related competition, much like the way I view math team. (I can see myself ending up on varsity math team just for that comment... Things like that always come back to bite me, but I digress.) With some encouragement, I worked my way to a few meetings, and I really hadn't a clue what I was doing. I saw some parts of the gearbox that we were all struggling to put together (which is quite humourous, now that I look back) and a few other things that looked too complicated for me to understand. I'd heard a few things about a game that was too complicated for me to grasp in one sitting. At some of the early meetings, we hadn't but four or so kids attending. I'm not sure whether I was interested by the parts or if it was my innate want to help out where I could, but I'd decided to stick with it.

I tried to enlist a few friends to come, though unsuccessfully, and soon enough, I'd found myself so involved as to be the head of this committee or that committe, as well as helping in the design of team logos and such. Not being the most outgoing of people certainly did not help here. I barely knew anyone in the group, and those that I knew I didn't know well.

As the numbers at meetings began to dwindle, and the active members of our team grew fewer, I found myself understanding more and doing more. I tried to learn as much as I could, taking in so many things at once. I really hadn't begun to learn much until our 'team' went to a practice day at Georgia Tech.

Our team captain couldn't go, so the team freshman and myself went, as we were the only two other members actively building at every meeting at that point. I began to learn that day. I went from not knowing a thing about our pneumatics system and how to wire to completely understanding the entire mess. I also found a friend in a near-complete stranger. I'd also met a few other people on different teams, and meeting people suddenly became easier for me.

After two more weeks of build and the participation of a couple more students, we all pursued sponsorships from miscellaneous companies, and though we were rejected several times over, we'd learned a lot from that.

Competition was another story completely. We'd forgotten how hectic build had been in just four weeks, and we scrambeled to get our bot working on the field. Despite these problems, we had a great time helping out some other teams, looking at other bots, and giving it our all.

So what is FIRST? It's much more than just science and technology. For me, it's a means to make friends that I wouldn't have otherwise-- to meet people that I'd otherwise just bump and mutter apologies at in the halls. It's a reason for me to slave over wiring diagrams and rule books. It's how I'd come to find skills and traits in myself that I'd've never known I possessed. FIRST isn't about robots; it's all about people and power: when any group gets together and works at something, they have the power to make anything possible.

FIRST has set me on a completely different path in life. And I'm all the better for it.