[Kimmeh]

Originally Posted by magnets

When I went through the FIRST program, I knew my head mentor really well. [...] We got to know each other really well, and he was a massive influence on my life. He was way more than a "robotics" mentor to me. I would consider him a life mentor and a life long friend.

The part in bold especially applies to me. Maybe it's because I've always been an "old soul" but a mentor and I got along quite well. His been a significant influence in my life. We've joked that I'm his right hand (and sometimes his left too). When brought to a competition, his son knows that if he can't find his dad to come find me. I'm friends with his wife and at least passing acquaintances with some of his friends that have come to events/helped out the team.

Incidentally, I'm also vaguely related to his wife, but we didn't discover that until I was no longer a student.

Like magnets, had this been in place while I was a student, I wouldn't have become as good of friends with him as I did, nor would he have had the impact that he has. I understand the intent behind this policy, but the impacts it has saddens me.