04-04-2011 16:50

Cyberphil

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

What an excellent story! I am glad teams are making a large impact, and I hope the school gets a better reputation for this.

Keep up the good work!

04-04-2011 16:56

LightWaves1636

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

Thanks! I'm so proud of them. They're truly living up to their mission statement:

"We strive to be the change we want to see in the world. Through our unrivaled commitment to excellence in engineering, hands-on learning, and breaking down stereotypes, we inspire the entire Eastside Memorial High School community to look beyond today towards a brighter tomorrow where anything is possible."

The team will not be able to attend Championships but our two project robots will. A t-shirt cannon robot and a soda dispensing robot will be at the NI booth in the pits.

Everyone down here is saying that this could be the article that finally gets the school district to open their eyes. The media has been giving the team so much bad press that even the district sides with them and we have bigger obstacles in our path to grow as a team. Hopefully, this article is the first of many to come and helps break down the barrier.

04-04-2011 16:59

J93Wagner

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

All I got to say is that every time people hear a statement similar to this, they're acknowledging the very problem FIRST is partly trying to rectify. But alas, this doesn't get said often enough to garner a lot of attention.

Huh, you know what... I guess I'll have to mention this at a meeting sometime to see if there is anything we can do as a team to rectify this...

04-04-2011 16:59

Cyberphil

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

You guys are an inspiration to me. I will be sure to check out the robots at STL!

04-04-2011 17:00

shadowdarklight

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

Sounds like you guys did an awesome job transitioning from your rookie year. You guys should be proud of what you've done so far. Can't wait to see how your team keeps growing, i'm sensing future hall of fame chairmans material.

04-04-2011 17:05

Cyberphil

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

I would not be surprised to tell you the truth. To come out of a situation like this and to prosper this well is almost unheard of! Two huge off-season projects alone is a huge task! Mae sure to mention this hardship next year, even though I am sure you already know that. Judges love that kind of stuff!

04-04-2011 17:10

LightWaves1636

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

Oh yeah, we are a hardworking team, we meet every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday no matter(except holidays and special situations) what and it apparently catches people off guard. We built these two bots in under three weeks and then this Saturday, we're already getting started on our first community service project with helping out SafePlace (www.safeplace.org) with their field day.

A judge at even wrote to us to keep on going. She said we were so inspirational, we were the first team she has ever judged that she felt so compelled to write us. She wrote us because she wanted to make sure that we keep on going. We're excited for next year already.

Hall of Fame? Sounds daunting....lol, but with any good Chairman's team, as long we keep up the hardwork, keep growing over time, and insure our longetivity, that'd be awesome.

You wouldn't believe what these students were like before they stepped onto the team, some of these students(and they're okay with people knowing) used to be some of the biggest trouble makers of the school and now they're just plain awesome!

04-04-2011 17:16

Cyberphil

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

Well, please take her advice! Keep it up!

04-04-2011 17:58

MattC9

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

Great job guys 2158(Anderson) Is very proud of Ya'll!!!

04-04-2011 18:31

StashZabriski

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

I'm the new mentor on the block for FRC 3320. I got invited to join them on the Saturday of competition during week 1 at the Alamo regional in San Antonio. After the competition was over, they helped us break down the field. That was the first surprise of many to come my way over the past month or so.

Needless to say I'm AMAZED at how well they all work as a team to overcome anything that gets in their way. Week after week, even at Lone Star, they continually surprise me. Even after the robot went up in smoke during the last match of finals, they pulled together and got everyone on the team though that hard time not leaving anyone without some sort of support.

04-04-2011 22:56

Akash Rastogi

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

I'm REALLY interested in meeting this team for 1 reason: South Philly High School is also labeled academically unacceptable. At the end of this academic year. 100% of the staff will be fired, we are hoping that 3553 can help rebuild the school in pursuit of a brighter future for all students.

I'd love to talk to the mentors/founders/teachers of this team in person to gain some advice on how my team should move forward.

05-04-2011 02:05

LightWaves1636

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

And Stash, we love having you on the team. One thing I love about our team is when somebody new joins, they get treated like they've always been a part of it.

We would love to help you out. We're in Austin, TX and just PM for my contact info and you can come visit the team anytime (we meet tue, thur, and sat year round) if you just let me know. We're not going to be at FIRST World Championships and the next big event we're partaking in is NI Week. (Hey maybe you can come down and check out NI Week and at the same time hang out with our team.)

13-04-2011 03:29

tonirtx

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

Akash ~

I wish you and your school all the very best. The transition will be rough. Be kind. Be strong. And, Good Luck!

At Eastside Memorial HS, the Robotics Team has become a rallying point of PRIDE for the campus! And they are recruiting!

The campus was seen as damaged. Perhaps un-salvageable. The students as: 'At least they are not at OUR school.' It was totally disrespect and bad reputation. And some of our kids believed it, too.

But the higher skills of math & science demonstrated by this Team; the proven talent and dedication and grace of these young people is pulling up the image of the whole campus, perhaps state-wide. :-D

NOW They are being noticed, in a GOOD way.
They are heading to universities around the country! Nice.

So, in my opinion, Yes! Team 3553 can lead the way to that brighter future.
Believing it is the FIRST step.

a final tip: Pass along your gratitude to the incoming staff. They are brave to come help your school. They are a little nervous, too. Help them. All of you.

Blessings to you, your Team, and your school.
Toni R.

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15-04-2011 06:49

LightWaves1636

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

Thought everyone may like this:

So this is an article the same reporter wrote for January 31, 2011.

As you all know, on April 2, 2011, she wrote an inspiring article about the team.

This is an article unrelated to the team directly but towards the school where we are.

FRC Team 3320 Changing Opinions, Breaking Down Stereotypes, Defying the Odds.......too cool

15-04-2011 22:19

Cyberphil

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

Once again, awesome stuff. You really are defying the odds.

19-04-2011 22:01

EdithH

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

I hope articles will still be published to seek other teams and maybe help them out as well to recover.

19-04-2011 22:09

Nancy3320

Re: pic: FRC 3320, Changing Opinions

hahahaha Our Team Is BEAST!!!!!!