Today was the qualifying competition for the 2009-2010 FIRST Lego League. The event took place in Parkville, MD, at Parkville High School. This was the competition that all the teams had been gearing up for since September.
Our team, The Constructicons, has been working together for only a few months, and this was their very first competition. For most of them, this was the first competition ever, and they are a young team. The average age is 11, and many of the other teams were older and much more experienced.
This has been a challenging experience for Brendan. He has had to learn to work on a team, to give and take when ideas and designs are being discussed.
He is a very creative builder, and he loves designing amazing things with his legos at home, but this is a much more directed and defined project.
It requires all the kids to work together, to be generous and to show respect, encouragement and charity, even when the going is really tough.
The whole program is designed to help kids develop maturity and professionalism in the face of tough competition.
I know there were many times that Brendan wanted to quit, but I told him that he needed to see the project through to the end, and I think it has been an invaluable lesson. I know that he is glad now that he did.
The team ended the day with an honorable mention, and will not be going to state this year, but they won so much more today than just a day's glory. They conquered some very stiff design challenges.
They developed a presentation and delivered it to the judges and it came off so well!They were able to learn each others' strengths and skills and find the best ways to fit each team member into the equation. This was a triumph for the kids, and for the coaches. Cathy and Larry had to take the greenest of the green, find ways to encourage, enlighten and motivate not just the kids, but some of us parents! They did an amazing job.
FIRST is all about innovation and discovery. This year the innovation and discovery took place primarily within the hearts and souls of eight young people. Next year they will take those lessons and the great experiences they had this year and they may win in a different way, a more public way.
This year there was much triumph and a very important victory...maybe the most important.
Congratulations to the Constructicons!
