First, I wanted to say that over the course of this season, I’ve come to know the Flying Toasters as a top notch team. You all act like a team far beyond your years, and have achieved incredible things both on and off the field. Many went into this past weekend feeling like the Toasters were a strong contender for the Chairman’s Award, and I have little doubt that you’ll be competing for the award at a championship level in the very near future. So congratulations on all you have achieved so far, and I know Frog Force is looking forward to working with you all in the coming year.
I had the opportunity to work with so many great mentors while I was a student on the HOT team. There were three in particular that have stuck with me through the years:
- Walt Hickok was my chairman’s mentor for four years. He is quite possibly the most kind hearted and wise man that I have ever met. He taught me that FIRST is about so much more than robots, and that I had the ability to change people’s lives with my actions. He consistently stressed how important it is to help as many people as possible, and really instilled the concept of gracious professionalism into my work. I still think about Walt when I help students now, and wonder what he would do in any given situation. I wouldn’t be the mentor I am today without his influence.
- Lori Gleason was not only my mentor, by my chemistry teacher as well. I hated chemistry, but Mrs. Gleason made it about as bearable as it could have possibly been. She was my personal role model when it came to women in STEM, and she has such an unbridled passion for education that I have not yet seen matched. Whenever I was feeling discouraged or down, she was always there to prop me back up and tell me to keep going. She had a lot of faith in me when others didn’t, and I will always appreciate that. I can only hope to embody even a little bit of that enthusiasm as I continue on a mentorship path.
- Adam Freeman was the mentor that intimidated and inspired me more than any others. He’s an incredible engineer, and so very dedicated to FIRST and the students. He pushes everybody to be the best they can be, and holds high expectations of both himself and the team. I had the opportunity to work on scouting for several years on the HOT team, which meant that I interfaced with Adam for strategy meetings at competitions. Even though I was a chairman’s student, Adam listened to my input and trusted my decisions. It meant so much to me that an adult had faith in my decision-making and opinions, and it really helped me become confident in myself. This has carried over into my professional life – I have a lot of faith in my ability to make sound decisions and I trust my own conclusions. I strive to do the same with my students, and hopefully I can instill confidence and high self-esteem into them that last long past high school.
My mentors changed my life, and I will always be grateful to them. I’m not sure where I would be right now without FIRST and their influence, but I know it wouldn’t be as fulfilling as my life now. So thank you, not only to my mentors, but to all mentors. You do make a difference, and you are appreciated.