Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Stratis
As mentors, we need to constantly push forward those students (regardless of gender) who tend to sit quietly in the back of the room.
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This. For the longest time I was one of those kids who sat quietly to the side until someone told me to do something, and then once that job was done I would retreat again. Thankfully, one of our mentors saw something in me and kind of took me under his wing. He didn't let me sit idly by anytime. I remember my junior year at our regional I was sitting in the stands sort of half-sleeping/half-scouting and he came up and was like "Where have you been? Why aren't you in the pit? We need you in the pit!" and I was kind of like "Oh, okay then let's go." and that was that. I don't know that I actually was needed in the pit, but he just wanted to get me out of the stands and doing something more productive (not that scouting isn't productive–I just wasn't doing a very good job). Thanks to him, I went from being practically invisible my freshman year to being driver and a build team leader/honorary captain my senior year.
We have to make sure that everyone (again, regardless of gender) feels welcomed and valued, because that's what will make them want to stay.