Hehe, being a mentor is one of the best things I have done with FIRST... of course that probably has to do with the fact I have some really great students to work with :D

As far as the coach thing goes... I don't know. Being driver was a blast, but going from driver to coach is so hard because you constantly want to grab the controls :ahh:

Also, after 3 years of getting the robot on the field, making sure the controls are set up right, stressing over the little details... I decided it wasn't worth it, lol. I have much more fun now sitting in the stands enjoying all the hard work we put into our creation ;)

Oh... sorry for getting off topic :rolleyes:

I would have to say that Eric, Tina, Megan and Shanna are all also FIRST-a-holics because without all of us working together, this team would have never gotten off the ground. They have also been in for 4-5 years now, so I think they qualify =)

Oh, that's Ken K.??? I saw him so many times at Nationals ... I wish I would've known who he was sooner - I would have said hi! Ah, well - there's always next year!

Errr.... sorry - back on topic!

- Katie

You know, I have a couple from out here to mention too. Of course, being in a small town 200 miles from anywhere there aren't really any people that I know outside of Kingman.

But

Glenn Thoroughman, who is always doing something FIRST related, even in the off season. He's totally hyped and gets way into it. There's also George Williams, who set up the machine shop in Az. He's majorly into FIRST. You know, he's the one trying to get the Grand Challenge through FIRST (in case you're interested, look up George and IM him). And then for students, there's Krystine Thoroughman, who is constantly doing FIRST stuff. I mean, seriously. You want to talk about committed, and up for anything... wow!

--Amanda

It depends... I mean I can't wait to have my own team and hang out with all the old FIRST kids. Sigh... that would be the life! I really can't wait for me to get old to do that!

So... no... I don't think it's bad!

--Amanda

Just watch - having your 'own' team can be addictive. My school work suffered greatly, and my parents were tired of hearing about 'my kids' (like all proud parents don't do that? :) ).

If you plan on starting another team, give them all you've got. Especially if you plan on starting from scratch - i.e. no veteran FIRSTers - you're holding an entire person's future in your hands; the whole experience is enriching, enlightening, and immensely enjoyable, all at the same time.

...because that's not even worth discussing and freaking you out. :)

I think I qualify as a FIRST-a-holic. I've been involved with FIRST in one way or another since 1998. I'm pretty active on here and Tigerbolt. Okay, there was that 8 month total hiatus, and I haven't been at Nats the past 2 years. But on the plus side, by the end of the summer, I'll have started up a team based on the principles of Gracious Professionalism. Speaking of which, remember my old rants on Gracious Professionalism? I gotta do some more of those in the future. And how about the Holy Order of FIRSTism?

Ahh... those were the days.

pfft freaked out, comeone, i am the embodiment of calmness :p, okay maybe not, but i was freaked out along time ago

Thanks Amanda - now I'm scared to start a team! :D

I'll hopefully start one soon. I can't wait! (me and my 30+ kids in my apparment with my other roommates. Wow)

I can't wait till I can become a mentor!

Tonight at our team party when I had the floor to talk I said "I may be done with FIRST as a high school student, but I promise I am not done yet :p"


Appreciation is the correct spelling :D

Be afraid... be very afraid :yikes:

Just kidding, being a mentor is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do in FIRST. And I totally relate to the 'my kids' thing! Every time I meet new people at U of A (especially when my hair was still blue from Nats) I tell them about how wonderful they are and for a second they always think I am a parent until I explain :rolleyes:

Stick with FIRST as long as you can because its like a never-ending gobstopper: it just becomes more and more flavorful ;)

DJ, if you come anywhere near purdue you know we'll recruit you!

My new idea is to start teams at all the IVY tech's around the state...now wouldn't THAT be a feat!

Ultimate FIRST-a-holic!
 

The ultimate "FIRST-a-holic" would definetly have to be on our team. He's a teacher at our career center and his name is Tim Railey. He is actually one of the few people around (are there many?) to actually be involved with the same team since 1992! (yep, the beginning). Although he may not be very publically known he's been through thick and thin with our team and he's probably got another 12 years left in him! :D