I don’t know how most of you feel right now. But for me this is a pretty big deal. It’s such a demanding program and thinking back to the amount of devotion it took I can’t help but get wound up. Waiting for this to start is what I would liken to Pre-Race jitters. I was thinking now would be a good time for some FIRST therapy. lets all lay back on the couch, and discuss how we’re coping with the horse in the chute syndrome. I know I’m not alone here… :ahh:
Start writing possible autonomous code now… that’s how I’m maintaining my sanity. What? You aren’t a programmer? Better get learning, then. Only a few days left. 
Programmers have to start now. When a robot doesn’t work it is always their fault. To wind down, avoid CD till kick off or else you will become completely nuts, like me. :eek:
Come up with a robotics-related, but not robot related project. I, for one, have been trying to brainstorm ways to get FIRST competitions featured on television. I was going to try some of the networks that show local high school football games, but if that doesn’t work (which it probably won’t) then I think our local public access station might be talked into it. (Assuming, of course, FIRST would allow it) At any rate, it’d be nice to for family and friends to be able to watch competitions without having to squint at web casts.
Sighs Probably nothing will come of it, but it’s a great way to keep your mind occupied.
Sleep sleep sleep. Get chill time now while you have it. But since
But no matter what you’re distracting yourself…do the following…
I am not a programmer or somethign like that, but I get stress sickness quickly when the build season commitments and activities add up. I think there are some very important things to keep in mind:
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You’re about to drink a whole load of soft drinks…every day. That is bad for your system just as far as you probably wouldn’t do it to taht extent otherwise. Be careful about dehydration, it weakens your mind and your body and you won’t be able to think through tasks and operate machines safely if you’re not at all healthy…
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Prep your schedule for the entirety of build season. Your grades shouldn’t go down the drain. It happens every year so know what you’ll need to do.
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Eat good food. A soft drink and fries for lunch at McDonalds doesn’t cut it for anybody. Come competition, you’ll be exhausted beyond belief if you don’t keep your body health up.
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Getting lots of sleep is impossible. Get it where you can though. Afterschool, lunch, wherever you can catch a nap.
^^ Maybe I’m posting odd advice, but no matter what your role is on the team, staying physically fit is important during an exhausting time.
On the subject of soda, since you’ll be drinking so much, consider diet. The average bottle of soda has a few hundred (empty) calories–so you might as well cut them out, right?
Always make time for homework. Robotics is important but grades are much more important.
And prepare not to get much sleep, However when you do finally burn out all that caffine from sodas and fall asleep nothing i mean nothing will wake you up.
You sure that you will be able to survive without coming to chiefdelphi until kickoff…?
I am practicing to make new designs and getting used to this 3, 4 hours of sleep for now, since after kickoff it will be more likely 2 hours. 
i second that, also, try to clear out other extracurriculars such as, well, say tennis, soccer, and practice for the spring musical. oh, wait a minute…
anyway, empty schedules rock for build season, but throwing other events into the mix does force even the most disorganized of us to establish some form of time-management system. just try to take everything that comes up during that time with a grain of salt. remember, your teammates and mentors are probably just as frazzled as you are!
even thougth it sometimes streches me thin i try to keep my self doing something during build and alittle before to i can get used to being really active during build i will be going to 2 concerts and also the polar bear plunge and probly other random events when we dont meet or after/before our team meetings that way i cant have time to be tired then i can get sleep later.
I dont know who said it first but theres alot to do now other then sleep, sleep is for the dead. (or battlebot builders.)*
*not to offend anyone who is invloved with battlebots
I heard yesterday that diet sodas have a detrimental impact on your short term memory retention. I haven’t verified the study, but I thought that you might want to know. Personally, I think that you will need the calories since your work output will be up.
Ah now I realize why I’m only taking classes three days a week