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Unread 19-04-2016, 18:18
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Brian Maher Brian Maher is offline
Questionable Decisionmakers
FRC #2791 (Shaker Robotics), FRC #1257 (Parallel Universe)
Team Role: College Student
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Rookie Year: 2012
Location: Troy, NY; NJ
Posts: 466
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Re: Incorporating Alumni within FRC Teams

Quote:
Originally Posted by george.tan View Post
1. Keep the college freshman away from the team. They need to discover themselves before mentoring a team. Also, mentoring requires a tons of time and dedication. It's best for the freshman to get 4.0 their first year in college.
As a college freshman mentor for two FRC teams (2791 in person and 1257 long-distance), I don't agree with this as a hard-and-fast rule. I finished my first semester at RPI with a 3.8 and am slated to get straight As this semester. My goal isn't to brag, it's to establish that many college freshmen can pull off the balance of being a mentor. I am one of three college freshmen mentoring 2791. To my knowledge, we are all doing fine in our classes, because we realize that school always comes first and that it's okay to take time off from FIRST.


I think the key advice here is to urge freshmen to seriously consider whether or not they have the time management skills to balance the work. Rising college students, I urge you to seriously consider your decision. I happen to have a lot of maturity when it comes to time management. It can be hard to pull back from FRC when you need to, but if you have any doubt in your ability to do so, do not mentor your freshman year.

A much more manageable, lower-commitment way to stay involved in FIRST is to volunteer at your local competition(s). College students make some of the most passionate volunteers; it's a great way to stay involved and still make a major impact for FIRST participants.
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2016-present, Mentor, FRC 2791 - Shaker Robotics
2016: Tech Valley SF (5236, 2791, 3624) and Quality Award, Finger Lakes SF (5254, 2791, 2383), Battlecry@WPI Winner (195, 2791, 501), Robot Rumble Winner (2791, 195, 6463)

2016-present, Mentor, FRC 1257 - Parallel Universe
2016: Mount Olive Winner (1257, 5624, 1676), Bridgewater-Raritan Finalist (1257, 25, 3340, 555) and Gracious Professionalism Award, MAR CMP Winner (225, 341, 1257), Archimedes SF (4003, 4564, 5842, 1257), IRI Invite

2012-2015, Student, FRC 1257 - Parallel Universe
2015: Mount Olive QF (1257, 1811, 1923) and Industrial Safety Award, North Brunswick Finalist (11, 193, 1257) and Team Spirit and Industrial Safety Awards
2014: Clifton Winner (1626, 869, 1257), MAR CMP QF (1257, 293, 303)
2013: TCNJ Industrial Safety Award
2012: Mount Olive QF (204, 303, 1257)
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