I thought twice before posting this but wanted to send a serious message to some who may not think before they act. As a mentor I felt compelled to write as well.
At the team social in Arizona at the Arizona Science Center all was going well and it seemed as if the teams were all having a good time. At closing time my daughter (who is not a team member btw) was standing with a friend who is a team mate near the door to leave under a stairway. From above someone poured perfume or cologne down on her. It went all over her head and all on her shirt etc. I am sure some might think this was a funny prank but I have a little more news for you.
I am one of the team parents and a mentor for our team. I have a severe illness which is called Chemical Sensitivity. I get extremely ill from chemicals and something that makes me very ill happens to be perfume and cologne. I choose to mentor because I love kids and love to work in my community- despite the fact that I am very ill.
I want to point out how this prank could have been MUCH MUCH WORSE. Some people with my illness may have gone into analeptic shock or stopped breathing or other horrible things. I have extremely hard time thinking clear once something like this has happened. I was the person driving home and had my two kids and a student from the team with me. Had my child not had spare clothes and my husband to possibly have driven her home - whomever done this could have quite possibly put all of our lives in severe danger.
Luckily my daughter is a good sport and went into the bathroom and washed a huge amount of it out of her hair- but that doesn't take away from the fact that I was made incredibly ill by a really mean prank
as well as what may have happened has this gotten poured on ME- I was with her not more than a few seconds before.
Everyone was a guest at the science center and should be on their best behavior (1) Because they are a guest and (2) Because they are a part of program that is focused on being a GRACIOUS PROFESSIONAL.
In closing I just want to say if you ever consider a prank like this- think again. This could have potentially been a very bad ending to a very good day and very good regional. I don't think you would want to be the cause of a very serious situation! Please be gracious and consider people's feelings and remember when you are a part of a F.I.R.S.T. Team to be a professional.
Thanks for listening and thanks to all the great teams who came out and had fun. Thanks to all the rest of you who were Gracious and Professional.