Your Last Year of FIRST!!!

[smurfgirl]

At the very least, I'm going to come back and visit 1124 next year while they're competing at the Connecticut Regional. I'm not sure where I'll end up at school next year- I still haven't heard back from everywhere yet- but I've already started to look into teams to mentor. My FIRST involvement has been one of my most memorable and valuable life experiences, and I want to continue to share that with others. I've worked really hard to inspire young children (girls especially) in my town to get involved with math, science, and technology, and I don't want to give up on this. I plan to continue my mission while I'm in college, whether I am nearby a FIRST team, or not.

[wsansewjs]

Originally Posted by Uberbots

FIRST is definitely the best part of high school... i have so many good memories and learning experiences from team 1124. however, the sad reality is that the real world is not like FIRST, and at some point you have to really break away to pursue other things in life.

For our high school years, the FIRST competition is definitely a great experience, but the problem is that it is a competition. The robots built on these teams only serve the purpose of competing with other robots (or picking up buckets in some cases), and dont really serve any direct practical purpose in the real world.

Beyond high school, i don't really plan to return to FIRST robotics to serve as a mentor or anything for at least 10 years. This is because i want to teach and inspire younger engineers, not relive my high school years. I realize that this is only a personal case, but its what im going to do.


...yeah this post probably sounds cynical and demeaning, but i don't intend for it to sound that way.

I am sorry but I have been alumni and mentor for my own team for the last 4 years now. You are terribly mistaken about FIRST not being part of the real world. FIRST is the REAL WORLD. It is already working with people around the world, connecting people together making the world a safer place as it can be. I completely understand that you didn't mean to be cynical or demeaning. The thing is I am already old and been there from the roots of FIRST, so I can tell you that its different over there. Perhaps, one day you may have a different opinion about it.

Good day ^_^

-Josh S.

Added: Also, you do not have to relieve to your high school years. All you have to do is set a different priority in FIRST by changing different roles or position from your high school's original.

[feliks_rosenber]

and dont really serve any direct practical purpose in the real world.

I do not agree with that at all!
The robots might look "modified RC cars" but the truth is that once used right, they can change lives!

I mean exposing disabled people to those robots. Letting them control the bots with their own hands. I know from my team experience what that means for others.
The glow on people faces is worth it. The robots are not only for lifting buckets.