[Matt Adams]

Eric, and all of those that are underappreciated-

I think that one of the important things that I learned is that you can't make high school students appreciate how much goes on behind the scenes. There's just too much. You just don't know the vastness of the behind the scenes work until you do it yourself.

It sounds like you're suffering from something that's very common: being underappreciated. I know of very few advisors that are truly praised enough for all that they do.

I don't think I realized until this year that as an advisor or mentor, my job is basically that of a servent. I take my job as an advisor as the chance to make sure that the high school students get the most possible from FIRST by providing them the most opportunities. I'm here to serve them, not to be praised and have a ticker tape parade for my efforts. I'm sure it's the same for you.

Honestly, you won't ever be thanked enough. This is something you just need to overcome, and the best way is through the support of other mentors on your team. When you break down because you're overworked and drastically underpaid, you need someone to encourage you to keep going. You're not a mentor because you wanted to be thanked every day for all the hard work you do, you choose to volunteer because these high school kids need a chance to succeed in something, and you want to provide that.

Hang in there buddy,

Matt