First compeition a success! Our team took third place overall, and went home with the second biggest award, both accomplishments setting us up for a hopeful run at States.
But that's only part of hte story. This is a team activity, and the mentor in me wants to tell you that all of these kids have worked incredibly hard and together they earned the successes they went home with.
But the mom in me has a deeper, more fine-tuned story to tell about one special kid (mine, of course), who was one of a small team integral in putting together the presentation that won them that award. About one special kid (mine, again), who, along with his co-lead, tackled nagging issues with programming to take them farther into finals than the team has been in several years. And about one special kid (yes, again, mine), who, when our team was incorrectly penalized to the tune of just enough points to barely lose a playoff match, was so "mature" and "poised" in his challenging the decision that the refs and volunteers sought out our mentor on the field to tell them how impressed they were with him (and how sorry they were to have to deny his overturn request). That's the deeper story. And there's more to it, but I'll leave my pride there.
