[JaneYoung]

1. What role do you play as a part of FIRST?
I am a non-engineering mentor for FRC 418, LASA Robotics.
I have recently begun traveling to events in other states and have participated as a volunteer. Awesome experiences.

2. How does FIRST help students for the future?
FIRST can help on many levels of preparation for future goals and achievements.
It inspires students in the areas of science and technology and more.
It provides a window into the real world applications of deadlines, time management, being resourceful, working on teams, using common sense.

3. What has FIRST done for you?
FIRST has allowed me to continue to develop in areas I love to explore and understand. It has introduced me to many inspirational students and mentors, opening the doors to positive experiences/learning experiences.

4. What do you enjoy most about being a mentor?
Almost every single day with the team and with fellow FIRSTers, I learn something new - not the least of which, how cool these people really are.

5. How did you become involved?
In 2002, my son called and asked me to drive some of the team to a Kick Off. He said that if I didn't help, the team couldn't go. It's gone from there.

6. What encouragement would you give to new/potential mentors?
- FIRST is what you make it
- attitude is everything
- don't give in to the can'ts and won'ts
- believe
- if you need help, ask. If you can help, offer. If you try, you will achieve.
- set short term and long term goals for the team

7. What are some of the rewards you get as a mentor?
- watching students develop and mature in areas of self-confidence, accountability, and having fun being geeks
- watching students go on to college and careers in fields they have thought about carefully, based on their involvement/roles in FIRST
- no matter the outcome of the year, I can always say: job well done - and know it is true

8. How do you feel FIRST and being a mentor has affected you and your life?
You can become as involved in FIRST as you choose. I like that.
I am a better person because of my involvement with the team and in experiencing FIRST.

9. What are some skills needed to be a mentor?
Different skill sets are required for different areas. The areas that I enjoy working in are the organizational aspects.
For everyone in general I would suggest:
- patience
- listening. If you don't have any listening skills, acquire them. It will make the team flow more smoothly and will make your contributions more enjoyable
- be able to say no and stick to it. If you don't have the ability to say no, acquire it. It will make the team flow more smoothly and will make your contributions more enjoyable
- be able to say yes if your first inclination is to say no out of habit. In other words, think outside the box.
- flexibility is a great asset. If you don't have any, get it.

10. How have you used your background knowledge (profession) in being a mentor?
My background is accounting/crunching numbers. Details. I use that all of the time. Also, I attempt to mentor students and parents in thinking long term/short term goals and what the consequences are if you don't.

11. What do you feel the biggest challenge of being a mentor is?
- Being a member of a FIRST team or a FIRSTer requires commitment in order to make your role/involvement a success. You have to monitor your involvement and your emotions, keeping the experience healthy. Yes, I said - healthy - people!
- you can't become disillusioned because things aren't going as was planned or because resources dry up/change/challenge the team. Just keep swimming.

12. What do you believe is expected of you?
In general:
- consistency
- integrity
- accountability
- honesty
- respect for the process, the program, the team.
I don't know that these are expected of me, but I expect them of myself and of others. Handbooks are great tools for laying out expectations of the mentors' roles.

13. In what way do you feel that you help the kids?
I hope they are encouraged to be who they are and to know that they are involved in an incredible program, helping to promote inspiration and recognition of science and technology. I'd like to think I encourage them to have fun with it as well, enjoying their time in FIRST.

14. What is your favorite part about it?
Everything. Not a good answer, I know...but a true answer.

15. Why should someone become a mentor?
- to discover areas about themselves they never knew existed
- to have the opportunity to be around incredible students
- to have the opportunity to be around incredible mentors/adults
- to have an opportunity to make a difference. It can start with driving team members to a Kick Off.

16. Anything you might want to add!
Good luck with your project!