[DonRotolo]

1. What role do you play as a part of FIRST?
I am the walking reference book and supply house. What the kids don't know, I point them towards a resource to learn; what materials they don't have readily available, I likely have in my basement; What skills or processes they don't know or have, I offer to teach.
2. How does FIRST help students for the future?
The see there is a process to designing and building something, and they have a relatively safe environment in whch to try new things.
3. What has FIRST done for you?
Consumed a lot of my spare time, but fired up my interest in building stuff, the fun kind of old-time engineering and problem-solving.
4. What do you enjoy most about being a mentor? The spark that lights in a kid's eyes when the understand something, or succeed at a new skill.
5. How did you become involved?
My employer sponsored a team, and a company-wide e-mail asked for mentors. I stuck with it while many dropped out.
6. What encouragement would you give to new/potential mentors?
Get involved because the kids have so much to learn but are so enthusiastic. Pace yourself, it's possible to brun out doing this.
7. What are some of the rewards you get as a mentor? Watching the design process in a fairly pure form, and seeing others approach problem-solving from unusual angles.
8. How do you feel FIRST and being a mentor has affected you and your life?
Mainly a lack of sleep during build seacon, but see #3
9. What are some skills needed to be a mentor?
Enthusiasm and patience to explain. Common sense and a 'back to basics' approach to deisgn and fabrication. Depending on your role, the team's needs and your background, knowledge math/materials science/fabrication techniques/tools/programming/just about anything will be helpful.
10. How have you used your background knowledge (profession) in being a mentor?
My engineering degree has been stretched past its limits, good thing I aced that MechE class all those years ago. I'm an EE and a ham radio op., so I was helpful for electrical design, and at work I am a wiring and battery expert which really was handy, I fabricate metal for fun, I know a little about programming (at least the theoretical part) and quite a bit on sensors. Web design... Being a generalist and systems guy is helpful, but not only engineers are needed.
11. What do you feel the biggest challenge of being a mentor is? Trying to be in several places at once.
12. What do you believe is expected of you? Be available as a reference. Accurate answers of "I don't know" - no guesses, bas info is worse than no info.
13. In what way do you feel that you help the kids? Someone to look up to, show them what a little education can get for them.
14. What is your favorite part about it? When they let me drive the robot or be the coach on the field
15. Why should someone become a mentor? You will have a lot of fun doing the stuff that made you want to be an engineer in the first place.
16. Anything you might want to add! Don't actually work on the robot, let the kids do it, no matter how tempted you are. You'll use all your management and parenting skills, too.



Don