Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Stratis
That said, I don't really think it's in the job description of a mentor to attempt to educate students on anything other that what we're there for - inspiration and recognition of science and technology. It's not my job at meetings to lecture kids about alcohol use, or talk about politics, or or anything else that may be controversial. It's to show them that engineering is fun, and that it exists largely outside of all those other concerns. Focus on what we're there for, and when necessary refer the students to the appropriate individuals employed by the school.
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As a recent alumni turned mentor, I have found on multiple occasions that discussing topics outside of "inspiration and recognition of science and technology" can be very beneficial to students on the team. I go to a very well known and respected engineering school that most of the students on my team hope to attend. I encourage them to come talk to me about their life outside of robotics and often share with them what I did in high school in order to get into the college I am at. One of the biggest things that I try to instill in them is that in order to get into a good school, they are better off working hard, discovering their passion, and making connections than they are sneaking out to go to parties or getting involved with drugs or alcohol. Once they turn 21 they can experiment all they want with alcohol, but in the mean time I try to keep them focuses on what will help them best advance to the next stage in their life. I always to try talk to them about their interests outside of robotics, because I believe that it is very important to be well rounded and have multiple interests rather than live robotics 24/7. I have been a mentor on my team for less than a year, but I can definitely see the kids positively responding to our conversations, and I think the fact that I am so close to them in age and am where they want to be a few years down the road significantly helps.