This seems like a great place to tell my FIRST story and where I'm at now
I got introduced to first back in 1999 (I think). My Uncle got my parents to bring me up to a competition in Michigan. I was hooked, and tried like hell for the next year to get my school involved. It did not happen, FIRST was still new and my school would not get on board, and no one was interested in sponsoring us.
I lost interest and ended up going to college for Industrial Technologies with a concentration of Electronics (As close to an EE as Kent State University had). My major adviser told me he had an Alumni reach out to him. The alumni was shop teacher now, and needed some help on a robotics team. Turns out that team was FRC 1278 the B.E.A.R.S. I was a college mentor and on field coach for them in 2005 and 2006. I loved it, it gave me the chance I did not have in high school. I was able to share my electrical experience with the team, and while we did not even make playoffs in our 1 regional each year, we still had a blast. Unfortunately the team did not compete after 2006 due to a mix of funding and student participation issues. And for me personally, life and college got in the way.
Fast Forward to 2010: I had now moved from the Akron area to Columbus, Ohio and worked for Time Warner Cable. Around that time they were just starting their Connect a Million Minds initiative. The Central Ohio Robotics Initiative was hosting an off season event. TWC was a sponsor and was looking for employees interested in Judging. Of course I jumped at the chance, and judged the event in 2010 and 2011.
Life ended up taking me to Alabama in towards the end of 2011. Yet again, I found myself not local to ANY Robotics teams, not even BEST (which is bigger in the south for some reason). In 2014, My wife and I ended up buying a house. Being in stable place with my own office/work space, I started wanting access to a makerspace for 3D Printers, laser cutters and machining. I ended up finding out about ColumbusMakesIt! At a arts and crafts my wife wanted to attend. Talking with one of the founders, he was going on about all the stuff CMI was starting to get involved in and he mentioned helping out with school robotics programs. I stopped him and asked "FIRST or BEST?" He looked at me with that look of realization you get when you know someone knows what they are talking about!
I joined CMI and helped judge the 2016 Columbus FLL Super Regional where I got introduced to FRC 4188, Columbus Space Program. I mentored them as much as I could during the built season, and volunteered for the first time officially at the Columbus, GA and Albany district events. I also managed to get my Wife hooked as well and were looking forward to 2017 and beyond, Now that were finally "Stable" I hope to stick with FIRST longer than 2 years!
Now that I've rambled on about that, let me put some perspective in how I've evolved though FIRST. When I first started mentoring, I was more involved in the design and fabrication then I am now. It may be because I'm still new to 4188, but I find myself sitting back and asking the "What-If" questions that help the team members see something they may not realize, and trying to teach them how to troubleshoot problems better. It was also a VERY emotional experience for me this year getting into the playoffs, and the subsequent win we got in Columbus. Getting that W felt great after 11 years! Getting to experience Worlds was also a crazy trip I wont forget!
But that brings me to the other odd evolution I noticed this year. I honestly think that my place during competitions is volunteering. I love mentoring during the build season, but it felt like at Worlds, we just got in the way at times, so to speak. Again tats something that might change next year as I'm not the "new" mentor
I guess part of me likes being involved too, the logistics and "Man behind the curtain" aspect of competitions are fun to me. You don't appreciate the amount of work that goes into something like a district event until your there 18-19 hours setting up, only to spend the same amount of time at the venue the last day until the last crate is loaded onto the semi.
One sad thing for me personally: I can never really be a FIRST alumni
Sorry for the rambling, and I hope you find my story interesting