[Amanda Morrison]

To whomever wrote this: You are not alone.

There are many more people like you who go through this same thing. The best advice I can give is to display a lot of self-confidence and knowledge through FIRST... otherwise, it will get the best of you. It is not necessary to be an engineering, technology, science, etc. major to run a team, and I can't say that enough. Generalizations like that destroy teams. A team needs someone who is dedicated enough and organized enough to run the team, and has a want to spread the message of science, technology, and engineering to students who may not otherwise have the opportunity.

Just because I study one area, does not mean I don't want to promote another, etc. Your team needs to get this straight. Being meek will not help - get your point across. If you are a seasoned FIRST vet, make it known.

In FIRST, leadership positions that are handed down don't always work out so well. Leadership positions that are assumed are successful, most of the time, because the person in charge cares enough to be in charge. So what if you don't know engineering? You now have one year under your belt in running a team, and more experience will come in time.

The best I can say is to be confident, self-assured, and to go on doing your job. The best you can do for your team is to lead it efficiently. It's not your job to herd engineers like cattle.