Last fall, 1816 took a hard look at its sustainability as a FIRST Robotics Competition team, and as a team, decided that determining its Core Values would be one of the best ways to confirm and then pass along team culture. In the months leading up to Kickoff 2018, a committee composed of members from all subteams led spirited discussions into what it means to be a member of The Green Machine. After much debate, it was determined that the team’s core values are: Respect, Trust, Inclusivity, Commitment, and Joy of Life.
At our team retreat this fall, we celebrated by nominating students who we thought best represented each value and then the student membership conducted a vote.
Ethan: “I received the Joy of Life award for my constant positive attitude while being on the team. Receiving this award isn’t just about always being positive; I also help support my teammates when they are feeling down or struggling with problems inside or outside of robotics. The Joy of Life value is about being there for your teammates, improving the overall morale of the team and getting other people to feel joy of life. I believe that Joy of Life has the biggest impact on everyone: it shows us how being positive and encouraging others to do good will boost productivity and the overall well-being for everyone involved.”
Several other team members received awards for exhibiting the team’s core values. Simone received the Respect award: She is always respectful to all people, no matter what, and is the member most willing to talk to people on other teams. Tenzing was commended for exemplifying Trust: whether it’s asking him a question or tasking him with a project, he always answers truthfully, honestly, and delivers on his promises. Morgan earned the Inclusivity Value award because of her ability to include people in activities. Once during Championships our team was dancing and listening to music and Morgan brought in a kid who was in a wheelchair, inviting him to dance with us and include him in our group. Nate B. won the Commitment Value award. He said he was surprised to be nominated for the work he did helping to organize our team’s modified FIRST experience to students living at People Serving People, a Minneapolis homeless shelter.
Nate: “My focus on the team as an outreach lead means that I don’t come to the team with a completed robot or an advanced piece of code, but instead with various events and community work. Receiving this award really cements to me how important is the outreach aspect of our team. While the amount of time put in by all student leaders is impressive, I am honored to represent the commitment every student on my team strives to put in every day. This Commitment to the team by every student is vital to the success of The Green Machine, and I hope student leadership on the team continues to inspire and drive commitment like those who taught me what it means to be committed to the team.”
We intend to live up to these Core Values during the 2019 Season, Destination: Deep Space, not only by demonstrating what we’ve learned from these workshops and to emulate each of the winners as we continue to help other teams create their own Core Values. Please contact us for more information.