[Zuelu562]

My final year as a student was rough. We knew going in that literally half of our team would be graduating, so unless a minor miracle occurred, the team would be significantly worse, at best, or die, at worst. I had been a core member, becoming the team's field coach, rules expert, among other tasks.

The next year, I found out my team would no longer be competing in FRC 3 short weeks before the season began (I had an inkling, but it was confirmed at that time). For lack of a better phrase, I was devastated. I had not gone onto college, with my grandfather's cancer and chemotherapy sessions coming that summer, and I was a 10 minute drive from the school.

I got a call the week before the build season began from the director of the local Boys and Girls Club, whose Robotics team was going into it's second season. I joined, and was thrust into a role where walking in as a first year mentor, I was the mentor with the most FIRST experience. It was tough, and I put a lot of the load on myself (foolishly, I might add).

My advice? Find something. Even if you can't find a team, volunteer. Something will find you. It's hard and tough to make the transition, but being a student, and a very involved one at that, you have all the skills in front of you. Teach what you were taught. Show what you were shown. Hopefully, a student will be inspired like you were.