[MGoelz]

I understand your problem. First of all, last year was my first year on the team. I was a freshman. As build season started, I realized that I would spend less "quality" time on my homework and projects. I suffered the consequences too. By rushing, and not putting all of my effort into my work, I got lower grades, especially in English. Somehow, I was able to keep it at an A-. That isn't the point; the point is that if had taken half of the time I put into robotics, and focused a few nights on important school projects instead, I could have turned in work that really reflected my potential.

This year, I told myself that I was going to be more committed to my school work, and I was going to stop procrastinating. I didn't start off too well. The first two weeks of school I fell back into the same habits as before. Then finally, something hit me, and I realized that I can't get by with simply completing things for school. I need to actually put effort into it to get the grade I want. I have to earn it. Similarly, you earn your spot on a team. How they see you is normally based off of your actions: what you do, and how you go about doing it. One thing to realize is that your team members/mentors will look up to you and appreciate and respect you even more, if you are not only in love with engineering, but are working hard in school, so you can become what it is you want to be.

FIRST is actually teaching you something very essential in your predicament. This is basically how life is; you have to learn to balanced every aspect of it. If you want to become an engineer, or whatever you want to be, you have to get into a good school. To get into that school, you have to have good grades and have an impressive academic history. In order to have good grades, you have to work for it. You have to dedicate yourself to working for it, even if that means neglecting some other things for a while. FIRST will always be there, but the opportunity to get into a certain college and go into your field of choice, will not.

Establishing a good regime now, will help you when build season actually gets here. I know it's hard; believe me, I know, but if you use your time to its full potential, you shouldn't have too many problems. Work on your homework right after school, or as soon as possible. Take the time to complete projects you would be proud of. Treat your schoolwork like robotics. You wouldn't want a robot that looks like you had a week to build, you didn't plan, and falls apart, would you? In the same way, you shouldn't want your schoolwork to be presented that way.

Basically, learn to prioritize and cut back on FIRST a little, especially right now, while you can. Our team always tells us that school is first, and our mentors understand if and when we need to miss a meeting or two to catch up on work, or even work on it at the meeting. They didn't get to be who they are by neglecting their work.

I wish luck to you, and hope you can find the intricate balance needed to accomplish your best on your schoolwork, and still contribute to your content in FIRST.