A FIRST Robotics Competition | Teen Ink

A FIRST Robotics Competition

March 31, 2009
By Hannah:] SILVER, Temperance, Michigan
Hannah:] SILVER, Temperance, Michigan
5 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Exhilarating, Energizing, Exciting, Emotional
Masses of people surrounding you—
working frantically to repair their broken machines
talking with judges and hoping to impress the

Masses of people surrounding. You
hear the echoes of the cheers of “RED ALLIANCE!”
as you jump out of the way of the passing
“ROBOT!!!!!!!!”

Hearing the echoes of the cheers of “RED ALLIANCE!”
trying to get just one thought together but—
“ROBOT!!!!!!!!”
claims your mind.

Trying to get just one thought together but
the excitement
claims your mind.
How can so many things go on at once?

The excitement
washes over you. The robot won the match! Judges are coming!
How can so many things go on at once?
The crowd’s continuing chant of “RED ALLIANCE!”

washes over you. The robot won the match! Judges are coming!
Just enough time for the Cha-Cha Slide! Or Cotton-Eye Joe!
The crowd’s continuing chant of “RED ALLIANCE!”
NO! The robot lost that one!

Just enough time for the Cha-Cha Slide? Or Cotton-Eye Joe?
Maybe the YMCA?
NO! The robot lost that one!
YES! It’s working—
maybe. The YMCA
starts and everyone joins in!
YES! It’s working
everyone’s excited about FIRST! It

starts! Everyone joins in
cheering for the team that won the Chairman’s Award!
Everyone’s excited about FIRST! It
is exhilarating, energizing, exciting, emotional.

The author's comments:
-FIRST=For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. The organization’s name
-Chairman’s Award=highest award given at competition
-at competition, for safety reasons, if a robot is being moved, someone must walk in front yelling “ROBOT!” So at any given moment, you can always hear a yell of “ROBOT!”
-robots play in teams of three called alliances. It is always Red Alliance versus Blue Alliance, so you always hear the familiar chants of Red Al-li-ance *clap, clap, clap, clap, clap*

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This article has 3 comments.


on Nov. 9 2010 at 3:57 pm
Alyssa Reiman, Edgewater, Maryland
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
that describes it perfectly. good job

on Apr. 13 2009 at 1:52 am
biggerinfinities SILVER, Superior, Colorado
7 articles 0 photos 353 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;We accept the love we think we deserve.&rdquo; <br /> ― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

liked it.... but slightly confusing

EdytD SILVER said...
on Apr. 12 2009 at 8:53 pm
EdytD SILVER, Livingston, New Jersey
6 articles 0 photos 258 comments
interesting! I've never been to a competition like this - I debate, so it's always quiet, and everyone is staring at the speaker. There is no noise but the pounding in one's head, and a single speaker's voice.