Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Stratis
I would strongly recommend something my team did a number of years ago - the "No Mentor" line. Let me explain...
As a team, we had come a long way, and it was the first time we had a significant number of students on the team who had been there for 2-3 years. The captains approached us and told us how much they appreciated everything we had taught them over the past few years. They went on to tell us that they felt it was important they take the next step at competition this year - they knew everything there was to know about the robot, and were confident they could keep it running without us. So, they were implementing a new rule called the "No Mentor" line, with the line being the tape outline of our pit. They didn't want mentors in the pit during the competition so they could prove to themselves and everyone else that they had what it took to do this themselves. They still wanted us at the competition, and they were clear that the line could be broken IF they specifically invited us across to help with a problem.
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Great post. I have been involved long enough to recognize this as a great metric for a team that understands that it is not about the Robot you place on the field as much as about the team you are able to mentor to a degree of competence.
In all of my incarnations within
FIRST, one of my favorite activities is to walk through the pits and witness the level of mentor control.
The truth is hard to hide in the pits.
Check out some of those "powerhouse" teams that we envy who are able to enact comprehensive high school programs that train students in all of the skills available through
FIRST. Observe their pits at a competition. You will be inspired.
Most of us teams are an amalgam of schools, local professionals, a lathe or two, some energetic parents, a variety of teachers, and a statistically biased sample of students. The types of teams are manifold.
Go with what you got. the sports analogy of
FIRST tricks us into to trying to become better in Engineering and Project Management and Marketing.
In life, your .500.
Remain in a state of becoming better.