“Remember these two things; play hard and have fun.” Tony Gwynn
My youngest son is at the regionals for his robotics competition this weekend, and months of hard work are on display from hundreds of nerdlings that have dedicated tens of thousands of hours pursuing excellence. He is exhibiting what I have tried to model for him his entire life: maximum effort and a good attitude towards something meaningful.
The atmosphere in the arena is electric: the score board usually used for D1 College tournaments, major concerts, and minor league games is lit up and the crowd rocking and more raucous than you’d expect for robots driven by highschoolers. It is the combination of technology and competition, teamwork and individual achievement in an atmosphere usually reserved for high-end athletes. There is pressure and upsets and the opportunity to shine while doing something they love, demonstrating skill and sportsmanship developed over years of sacrifice towards something worthy.
This is the precursor to the best future a parent can hope for for their kids: a chance to work hard and do great things in an area you are passionate about. This is something too many adults lack in their careers and lives, and seeing the unfettered joy in the faces of the kids is what being a parent or coach is all about.