[Al Skierkiewicz]

1. What role do you play as a part of FIRST? I am a Broadcast Engineeer who is an electrical mentor on Team 111 and I also serve as inspector or lead inspector at events.

2. How does FIRST help students for the future?This organization teaches students how to work as a team in a corporate type setting. The competition gives students practice to think outside the box while problem solving and forming strategies. Above all it fosters the concept of Gracious Professionalism where students interact with other students and mentors towards a common goal. The experience allows students to investigate possible careers while learning and sets them on the road to higher education.

3. What has FIRST done for you? First has allowed me to take an active role in the student experience while learning new techniques for problem solving and efficient methods of operation.

4. What do you enjoy most about being a mentor? I find that assisting young people to learn and be exposed to the world while being part of a team is the most enjoyable experience.

5. How did you become involved? I began in 1996 when my son needed some help in documenting team activity and progress while building a robot using video. When an electrical problem occured at the first Midwest Regional I was asked to help and have been part of the team ever since.

6. What encouragement would you give to new/potential mentors? In this period of world history, young people need some positive adult influence in their lives and this oportunity allows adults to participate in that much needed influence while having fun at the same time.

7. What are some of the rewards you get as a mentor? Everytime a young person succeeds, chooses a college, wins an award or is recognized for their individual worth, mentors receive an award.

8. How do you feel FIRST and being a mentor has affected you and your life? In addition to the above, skills I have learned have helped immensely in my professional life. I have the ability to discuss ideas with GM, Ford and Chrysler, NASA, Motorola and a variety of other engineers.

9. What are some skills needed to be a mentor? One must have a willingness to set aside one's own selfish beliefs and ideas to work towards a common goal where the advancement of the student is the highest priority. If you can divorce yourself from the competitive nature of the actual competition and to keep the student in mind for every decision you make, then you may be a good candidate for a First mentor.

10. How have you used your background knowledge (profession) in being a mentor? I am able to use my understanding of electrical parameters to teach students electrical layout and wiring design as well as the operation of various electrical components and RF wireless communications.

11. What do you feel the biggest challenge of being a mentor is? A mentor must keep Gracious Professionalism in mind at all times when interacting with all students and team members (your own and other teams).

12. What do you believe is expected of you? I am expected to act with Gracious Professionalism while being the adult influence in a student organization.

13. In what way do you feel that you help the kids? This is a very hard thing to judge as one may never know the positive influence you have on a young person. Tangible events are the graduation of a struggling student or the acceptance to a college of their choice. Others may be the attainment of Eagle Scout, National Honor Society inductance, student of the quarter.

14. What is your favorite part about it? My favorite part of the First experience is seeing the smiling faces of rookie competitors at their first event.

15. Why should someone become a mentor? One should become a mentor because this program, like scouting, cannot survive without your help. Although there are many organizations that need volunteers, young people are the most in need of guidance.

16. Anything you might want to add! This is perhaps the one organization where an adult can help young people, meet other professionals from around the world, and volunteer your time all while being part of a great competition.