Mentor For Hire!

[White_Orpheus]

So it hit me this weekend at the Silicon Valley Regional that my time on team 253 was coming to a close, and I got pretty sad. I've had so much fun in FIRST, so I'd really like to continue with the program. It's very likely that I'll be studying in a computer arts program at UCSD next year, (depends on if I get into NYU) so I'd really like to find a team to mentor in the La Jolla area. Any takers?

[Bill Gold]

So it hit me this weekend at the Silicon Valley Regional that my time on team 253 was coming to a close, and I got pretty sad. I've had so much fun in FIRST, so I'd really like to continue with the program. It's very likely that I'll be studying in a computer arts program at UCSD next year, (depends on if I get into NYU) so I'd really like to find a team to mentor in the La Jolla area. Any takers?
I'd check with team 812. If I recall, they're located on the UCSD campus.

[DCA Fan]

Yes we are, we're located at Preuss School UCSD, on east campus. Contact lead teacher Rob Mainieri: rmainier@ucsd.edu

[jparkteach]

Yes we are, we're located at Preuss School UCSD, on east campus. Contact lead teacher Rob Mainieri: rmainier@ucsd.edu

I think that's what all FIRST Alums should do. I know college is very hectic and gives you very little time for anything else, but most schools don't start their spring semester until late January, so you have a couple of weeks between kickoff and when you have to go back to school to mentor a team. After you've gone through FIRST, it behooves you to find opportunities to give back and mentor another team (especially rookies). If you need help finding a team near the college you'll be atending, feel free to contact the Senior Mentors in your area.
If there is anyone coming to school in the NYC area in the fall and would like to mentor a team please contact JOHN PARK at jpark@usfirst.org. For any other areas, I'll be happy to forward your e-mail to the Senior Mentor in your area!
Good luck!!

[Tim Delles]

I think that's what all FIRST Alums should do. I know college is very hectic and gives you very little time for anything else, but most schools don't start their spring semester until late January, so you have a couple of weeks between kickoff and when you have to go back to school to mentor a team. After you've gone through FIRST, it behooves you to find opportunities to give back and mentor another team (especially rookies). If you need help finding a team near the college you'll be atending, feel free to contact the Senior Mentors in your area.
If there is anyone coming to school in the NYC area in the fall and would like to mentor a team please contact JOHN PARK at jpark@usfirst.org. For any other areas, I'll be happy to forward your e-mail to the Senior Mentor in your area!
Good luck!!

Heck. If you go to college for engineering and your school doesn't sponsor a high school team then you should get your college to do that, not only is it a great learning experience for the high school students, you as a college student get to mentor a team and get even more knowledge out of FIRST.

Good luck to all the Seniors going off to college this coming Fall.

[Alex Cormier]

Heck. If you go to college for engineering and your school doesn't sponsor a high school team then you should get your college to do that, not only is it a great learning experience for the high school students, you as a college student get to mentor a team and get even more knowledge out of FIRST.

Good luck to all the Seniors going off to college this coming Fall.
It will also look amazing on a resume for a job later in life that You started and ran a FIRST team during your college years.

[RaMoore]

Starting a FIRST team in college is definitely the hardest (fun?) thing I've done thus far in school.

If any other students are interesting in starting a team at their school and would like any lessons of experience I've got a few.

I was a member of Team 118 for 3 years in high school (2001-2003) and I really missed FIRST after coming to Texas Tech because we didn't have anything nearly that challenging or fun in our curriculum. Unfortunately there is strong stigma against FIRST out here. It was very shocking to find the program is actually quiet venomously opposed by some in the College of Engineering.

Starting a FIRST team is an ever expanding lesson in project management, electrical, computer, mechanical and systems engineering and human natures.

I think the ultimate success, of a college team especially, is going to rely on creating a self sustaining program. This is not just funding but more importantly, what really makes the program work, mentors. I know my team will exist as long as I'm here, but how do I ensure that it will continue to be available to the students when I leave?

It's been a hard but successful rookie year so far. Wish us luck at the Lone Star Regional!

[Katy]

If you can not find a team to join I am not going to tell you "don't make your own team your freshman year of college" because I never listened when anybody said that. I will say however don't take it lightly, give you lots of advice that probably does not apply to you, and tell you how to avoid some of the mistakes I made. I know you're not talking about this but if you are thinking in the back of your mind of trying such a nightmare you definitely should have this information.

If you can take some of the easier classes (still for your requirement) and make sure time-wise are finished before school lets out every day.

I quit my federal work study job due to time commitments: with more planning you could just rework what months you work.

Get all your old mentor's phone numbers. You are going to need to call them at some point and ask them questions. Also try to get contacts on local teams who can physically loan you parts and help.

Begin recruiting and training as soon as you get there. You're from an old team (like I was) but on my rookie team none of the kids knew a Phillips from a flathead let alone how to program. Build your crate (maybe even a nice one that doubles as a pit space) and cart to train your students.

Get amazingly good grades for your first grading period before FIRST. It will up your GPA in the eventuality that FIRST cuts into your study time and it will also teach you to do your homework fast and easily.

As a younger person you are going to get an awful lot of grief in just general paperwork. You are probably going to be required to have at least one mentor over the age of 18 at every practice and have somebody 21 to go anywhere. You will probably also need school officials from whatever school you are working with as well as a flood of background checks.

Please if you do try this tell me and I'll try to help you any way I can.

There is lots more but I can't think of it right now. I'll post it when I think of it.

[James Dowd]

Working with Team 830 during these past two years at the University of Michigan has been the best experience of my college career. I've been involved in a lot of things - even intercollegiate athletics - but I have learned more from becoming a FIRST mentor than I have in anything else.

As a high school student you learn a lot about engineering, design, business and all of that ... but in college you continue to learn about all of this, problem solving, management and logistics. As you go through school, be it for engineering, chemistry, math, business or even english or history, you learn through FIRST that things don't always go the way the textbook says - a valuable lesson regardless of your chosen career.

I encourage anyone with the opportunity to mentor while in college to do it.

[Simon Strauss]

Should you get into NYU(you may have already by now) team 1155 from the Bronx High School of Science can always use more help. The whole bronx thing might turn you off but chances are that the dorms you live in will be no more than 5 blocks from my house and the commute isnt that bad. The school is right near a train station that will bring you right back to the center of the NYU psuedo-campus and you wil almost always have either a ride or a group of people to travel back with after those late nights during build.