[Jaine Perotti]

I was thinking about this last night (boy did this past Championship get me thinking!), and I have been debating for a while now about what I am interested in doing for FIRST when I move to Miami for college.

I have been thinking about waiting at least one year before getting involved in mentoring another FIRST team in the area. I certainly do not want to attempt to start a new team, because as a freshman, I know I will need time to adjust to my new environment and establish a living routine before I throw myself into such a time commitment.

However, I am seriously considering getting involved in starting a Lego League program at the Miccosukee Indian School - an elementary school on the local Indian reservation. A friend of my mother works there, and she told me that the technology teacher at that school is interested in incorporating Lego robotics into the curriculum. I am hoping that I will be able to help him with preparation of curriculum materials, and in the founding of a Lego League team if there is enough interest. However, founding a team there will be time intensive, and I am currently debating as to whether or not I want to get involved in doing that yet at this point.

I am quite sure, however, that I want to become involved in South Florida FIRST. There are probably a lot of organizational tasks that I can easily complete from my dorm room (paperwork, phone calls, etc.), and I am very interested in brainstorming more ideas to make the organization more effective and far reaching.

And of course, I am interested in volunteering at the Florida Regional and next year's Championship, as well as helping with the organization of Mission Mayhem, the off season competition in Ft. Lauderdale.

I figure that if I try to limit myself to things which can be done easily without having to spend a great deal of time off campus, I will be able to balance homework and my job. Volunteer work and brainstorming/paperwork for South Florida FIRST will hopefully be manageable for me. As for the Lego League program, perhaps I can serve as an adviser for the time being, and only mentor FLL and FRC teams when I am positive that I have the time and energy to do so.

-- Jaine