[MysterE]

Hi all,

I know I've been writing a lot lately. A lot has been happening though so I guess that is ok. I wanted to write this for one particular group of people -the mentors who may have had a hard season, longer hours than usual, and perhaps - just maybe - are wondering a bit why they are even involved. Many times this can be new mentors who are still living through the shock of a FIRST season but other times it seems that it can be older mentors who are just tired.

I have a story and a suggestion/story as well. Today one of my seniors came to visit me for the last time. I teach Social Studies, Robotics, and am also the Virtual School facilitator. She took the latter course and was taking her final exam. Before she left she gave me a 'gift'. First was a picture of her and her fiancee who is heading into the military and was a member of my team for the first year. The second was a paper airplane. Initially I had no clue why. She explained it quickly however. "Mr. Eiland, this was a paper airplane that I caught while at the 2011 World Championship concert. I saved it all this time and wanted to give it to you." Wow. I almost cried.

Second - the suggestion. If you have the time, I would recommend buying a nice journal and each year have your students write a message in it. I do this for all of my classes as well as robotics students. Sometimes I only get a signature or a short note. Every now and then though - I get something that reminds me that we are - as FIRST mentors - more important to people than we may ever know:

"Never have I met a person who is like a second dad to me. All the tears I've cried or tantrums I've thrown around you have been soothed, and I've never seen you lose your cool over it. I've conquered my fear of heights and worked on conquering the public speaking aversion. I don't think I have learned more from any other person outside of my biological family. You have given me a Panthrobot family and I am forever grateful."

Stand strong mentors. You never know who you have become a brother, sister, father, or mother to. Now - what stories do you have?