Quote:
Originally Posted by popnbrown
What the reasons are that you continue to be in FIRST.
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I have been involved with FIRST for 17 years, and many of you already know that. I started out at the wee age of 5 and have been heavily involved ever since. My greatest highlight in FIRST thus far is being a mentor. FIRST is about the bonds and relationships that are formed, and when those bonds and relationships become as strong as they are you can achieve greatness.
As a first year mentor, I was a bit lost and it was hard to hand everything over to the students, for I had been used to writing awards and designing the robot with other students as a student for 7 plus years, but I found a way and it was done.
But to answer your question, whole heartedly, I do this, I do FIRST, for the students. Day in and day out I am there for them, in school or out of school 24/7 and they all know that. The one thing that I always tell my kids is that, if they are happy I am happy. Because they are the future, and they are the leaders of our team. Their decisions drive what the team does and it is what they want to do. I am in this to give them something to do in and out of school and provide opportunities to them that they otherwise may not encounter. For a few of my students that I have had, furthering their education was not really something they thought about, but after showing them and inspiring them, it is 100% possible, they look at higher education and create paths for themselves that they may not have deemed possible.
Teaching the students new and innovative things, while guiding them down different and inspirational paths in life is why I do this. I'm not one to "flaunt" in any way shape or form, but I do this to be a role model. Knowing a student changed their "track" for college and where they went because you inspired them to do so, means the world to me. And to hear the students say we can do this and we can do anything we set our minds to, really gets me going and keeps me going, because they never give up.
And last but certainly not least, I do this because this team is my family and they reassure that to me each and everyday.