The Robo Masters, team 18308, leave the high school where the FLL (read about FLL here before continuing) competition happened. It was already getting dark. The Robo Masters knew they had tried their best.
--*--
It was 6:15 in the morning. All the team members had come to our meeting place, one of our team member's house. The FLL competition was starting at 7, and was at San Mateo, which was about half an hour's drive. Everyone quickly placed all the props, papers, boards, and other items in the car. The team knew they were ready. They had practiced a lot, and knew the robot positions very well. The Robo Masters were confident. Finally, the brought out the one and only Bunga Lilliput, the robot. There was a lot of pressure on Bunga. The points and results of our game were dependent on him working. But the team knew they could depend on Bunga. And so they set off to the big competition.
The Robo Masters walked into the gym of the high school where the whole competition would take place. Each team had their own table, called a "pit", where you can keep all your supplies, and can be used to promote your project and/or robot. They put up their pit decorations and project board. There schedule told them that the first part of the robot game would be coming up next. The team's plan for the game was strong and, if the program worked, could give them more than 400 points. Time passed, and the Robo Masters went to the game area.
3,2,1 GO! The two team members controlling the robot started the program, and the robot went forward. The first run was mostly successful. The second wasn't as successful. Finally, the most important run, the last one, started. Oh no! An obstacle came in the way, and left the robot with a bad start. The parts ahead all slightly messed up. This round had become far worse than expected. The Robo Masters left knowing that maybe more practice and few tweaks could make next round better.
Tweaks were made, and the team went to do their second and third rounds. Both failed like the first one. Then came the time for the fourth and final round. The first two runs worked perfectly. Everybody just hoped the third would too. As Bunga went to finish the last run, and obstacle caused him to turn to a different angle. Bunga didn't make it. Now that all of their rounds had gotten low scores, they really had no chance of qualifying to the next round. They just hoped their project and core values could win them an award.
Their project went smooth. Their skit was performed perfectly. The question were answered without stuttering, except for one, which surprised the team for a second. The question was answered roughly, saving the team for a few seconds. The core values were shown well. They used respect with each other. The team thought these might save the day.
Then came the moment of truth. The awards ceremony was starting. Many awards were given to deserving teams. None of them were for the Robo Masters. That is when they realized that this wasn't because they didn't work hard. They had tried very hard, and accomplished a lot. It was because there were teams that had more experience behind them. After all, the Robo Masters were a rookie team. They knew they had tried their best and had fun. They got so much experience. And that's really all that mattered.
The Robo Masters left the high school where the FLL competition happened. It was already getting dark. "Next time" they thought, "next time."
--*--
I really, truly am going to miss coming every weekend, meeting my friends and having a good time. You might think I am getting a break, but this weekend I woke up feeling like there was something missing in my life. I realize now this wasn't just coming every weekend to do work. It was coming every weekend to meet my good friends and have fun with them. But this bond that we as a team created, is truly amazing. And this bonding together as a team is going to help all of us in our future life. Another team member and I are in 8th grade, so we won't be able to join FLL next year. But this won't break our team up. We did a lot together, and no matter what happens, we will always be the Robo Masters, and we'll always be 100% Powered to Create.
--*--
It was 6:15 in the morning. All the team members had come to our meeting place, one of our team member's house. The FLL competition was starting at 7, and was at San Mateo, which was about half an hour's drive. Everyone quickly placed all the props, papers, boards, and other items in the car. The team knew they were ready. They had practiced a lot, and knew the robot positions very well. The Robo Masters were confident. Finally, the brought out the one and only Bunga Lilliput, the robot. There was a lot of pressure on Bunga. The points and results of our game were dependent on him working. But the team knew they could depend on Bunga. And so they set off to the big competition.
The Robo Masters walked into the gym of the high school where the whole competition would take place. Each team had their own table, called a "pit", where you can keep all your supplies, and can be used to promote your project and/or robot. They put up their pit decorations and project board. There schedule told them that the first part of the robot game would be coming up next. The team's plan for the game was strong and, if the program worked, could give them more than 400 points. Time passed, and the Robo Masters went to the game area.
3,2,1 GO! The two team members controlling the robot started the program, and the robot went forward. The first run was mostly successful. The second wasn't as successful. Finally, the most important run, the last one, started. Oh no! An obstacle came in the way, and left the robot with a bad start. The parts ahead all slightly messed up. This round had become far worse than expected. The Robo Masters left knowing that maybe more practice and few tweaks could make next round better.
Tweaks were made, and the team went to do their second and third rounds. Both failed like the first one. Then came the time for the fourth and final round. The first two runs worked perfectly. Everybody just hoped the third would too. As Bunga went to finish the last run, and obstacle caused him to turn to a different angle. Bunga didn't make it. Now that all of their rounds had gotten low scores, they really had no chance of qualifying to the next round. They just hoped their project and core values could win them an award.
Their project went smooth. Their skit was performed perfectly. The question were answered without stuttering, except for one, which surprised the team for a second. The question was answered roughly, saving the team for a few seconds. The core values were shown well. They used respect with each other. The team thought these might save the day.
Then came the moment of truth. The awards ceremony was starting. Many awards were given to deserving teams. None of them were for the Robo Masters. That is when they realized that this wasn't because they didn't work hard. They had tried very hard, and accomplished a lot. It was because there were teams that had more experience behind them. After all, the Robo Masters were a rookie team. They knew they had tried their best and had fun. They got so much experience. And that's really all that mattered.
The Robo Masters left the high school where the FLL competition happened. It was already getting dark. "Next time" they thought, "next time."
--*--
I really, truly am going to miss coming every weekend, meeting my friends and having a good time. You might think I am getting a break, but this weekend I woke up feeling like there was something missing in my life. I realize now this wasn't just coming every weekend to do work. It was coming every weekend to meet my good friends and have fun with them. But this bond that we as a team created, is truly amazing. And this bonding together as a team is going to help all of us in our future life. Another team member and I are in 8th grade, so we won't be able to join FLL next year. But this won't break our team up. We did a lot together, and no matter what happens, we will always be the Robo Masters, and we'll always be 100% Powered to Create.
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