Quote:
Originally Posted by ToddF
I understand your desire to continue to participate on your team. The fact that you want to is a credit to FIRST, in that the program has made STEM enjoyable for you. You are exactly what FIRST aims to produce, high school graduates who intend to pursue careers in STEM fields. But, remaining on your high school team as a "student" after you have graduated, especially in a leadership position on the team, isn't fair to the other students on the team. They have put in their time, growing into those positions. It's time to allow them to move up.
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While true (and a very good way to take this thread), I'd venture that it is legitimately dependent on the individual's reason behind the gap year. For instance, we've had students graduate at 16 and 17 (home schooled) and take gap years before college.
They chose to move on from the team for unrelated reasons, but I doubt we would have begrudged a 16-year-old another year on the team, even if she did have to be labeled a "mentor" and thus not eligible to drive. I'm not sure how I feel about that limitation, but don't see a reason that anyone this young should be effectively "kicked out" of their experience as a FIRST student simply because they can graduate early.
I can envision a few other potential reasons to continue acting as a student, though some a perhaps more controversial than a situation in which you're ending your student tenure "early".
As for driving, I'd agree with others that the legal answer is likely no, but you could check with FIRST. In terms of behaving as a student, I'd say it's something best discussed with your mentors.