I stumbled across this story on the FIRST Canada Facebook page…this is what determination is all about!
Meet Herman.
Herman is from Fort McMurray, an Albertan city eight hours North of Calgary.
Like most of us, Herman wanted to build robots.
Unlike most of us, he the only student on FRC Team 4625, the Trappers.
You see, Herman is a rookie. He started the team along with a teacher from Father Mercredi High School and three other students. Like most of us felt in our rookie year, build season was challenging. Unfortunately, the other three students quit.
But this isn’t a pity story for Herman, but one of inspiration. He is the one-person team that could.
At fifteen years old Herman walked into the Western Canadian FRC Regional, Thursday, April 4, his family shortly behind him. It was just him and his robot, as his teacher showing up later in the day. With courage, he sat in his pit and got to work.
Soon, the rest of the regional heard of this one-person rookie team. They were curious, so they checked it out and talked to Herman. When SWAT (FRC Team 771) and the Robodawgs (FRC Teams 216, 244, 288) found out his robot wasn’t functioning, they got to work. With help from both veteran and rookie teams alike, Herman had a functioning, inspected robot by the time the pits closed Thursday. The regional administration had also given him special permission to have people from other teams be a part of his drive team. He will also have a handmade banner for his pit and scouting help, incase he happens to be in a picking position.
With the help of his RoboDawgs and SWAT drive team friends, Herman succeeded in seeding fifteenth out of twenty-nine teams, winning six of his fourteen matches. The entire time, he wore a slight smile and a look of awe on his face.
But the fun had to end, as his flight was booked for noon on Saturday – right before alliance selections. Even if Herman were selected for an alliance, he would not be there to accept or compete.
The news that Herman was not available for alliance selection was spread to many teams in Calgary; however, unknowingly, the all-rookie alliance (the 5th alliance in the competition) selected Herman’s team as their second pick. Karthik, our colourful FIRST Canada MC, started to say that Herman’s team was not competing and to make another selection, when Herman, still with his coat and backpack on, came bounding across the field shouting, “I’m here! I’m here!”
The entire crowd erupted in applause, spontaneously giving Herman a standing ovation. The scene could not have been scripted better had it been a Disney movie.
In the end, Herman’s alliance (FIRST Teams 4733, 4606 and 4625) was eliminated in the quarterfinals by the 4th alliance, though not without a heavy heart felt throughout the Olympic Oval.
The judges found the diminutive yet courageous Trappers team deserving, and during the awards ceremony Herman was presented with the Judges’ Award for determination. Herman proved to be a role model to us all this past weekend, and will continue to serve as an inspiration, when giving up seems like the easiest solution to a problem.
Some ideas are easily successful and some are more challenging, but the great part about FIRST is that the FIRST Community is always there to support you. Today was just one example of how FIRST is a family, and families stick through things – thick or thin. Thank you Herman, for inspiring and reminding us what FIRST is all about.
