[Robert Thacker-]

As I see it, people have the resources they need to do physics tests and teach themselves programs, and make a great robot. People have the internet. People can go online and watch videos to how professionals do it. If people are "student-oriented" then the student should take it as an obligation to teach him/herself everything he/she may need to know. Some people will tell themselves "well, I have no mentor to show me" then go learn it!

Look at me! I had no one to teach me Autodesk Inventor. I learned that program over the summer, I spent my whole time learning that program and talking to people with programs to what to do. I made emails; I looked at other teams that submitted entries. I am the one that leads the design crew and we are COMPLETELY student-oriented (just the CAD team). And look at us; we won two years in a row.

So no one can sit there and tell me there stories of no mentors, b/c I don't buy it, to be honest. I believe people use it as an excuse to not commit to the process. It's about passion, drive, motivation, and heart to carry on what you learn to the next generation!