1. What role do you play as a part of FIRST?
I am currently a college student mentoring team 395 in the New York City area. I mainly help with programming, electrical, robot design, strategy, and scouting.
2. How does FIRST help students for the future?
FIRST helps students for the future by exposing them to many disciplines that they might not be put in contact with otherwise. It lets them have a taste of the future before entering college and gives incoming college freshman a better chance at selecting a major that will suit them.
3. What has FIRST done for you?
FIRST has done more things for me than could be mentioned here. The FIRST program has given me
friends and a sense of community; FIRST has given me
people to look up to; it has taken me from being a shy, timid 9th grader to an outgoing and confident college freshman; it has given me technical knowledge and gotten me ready to study engineering; it has allowed me to experience many fields of engineering helping me select one from the ocean of concentrations; and last, but definitely not least, it has given me a passion, something i care about, something that I feel deserves my all.
4. What do you enjoy most about being a mentor?
What one thing do I enjoy most about being a mentor? I don't think that I can narrow it down that much. I greatly enjoy the look that appears on a student's face when something that has been giving trouble finally works. The satisfaction when their creation works for the first time, and continues working throughout the season warms me up inside. A great aspect of being a mentor is the fact that it allows me to steer these children in the right direction; to keep them off the streets and perhaps shield them from
some of the bad influences present in this world.
5. How did you become involved?
I first became a member of the FIRST program in my freshman year of High School, and have remained a steadfast member since. I gradually climbed the ranks going from an unspecialized freshman that just helped wherever he could, to head programmer sophomore year, to leading strategy and scouting in the Championships in Atlanta junior year, to becoming team leader and captain and operator senior year, and finally bridging the gap between student and mentor in my freshman year in college, becoming involved with 2train Robotics.
6. What encouragement would you give to new/potential mentors?
One thing that I would tell all potential mentors is to look past all the hard work for the moment, look past the fact that it is a
lot of work, and take note of the rewards that you receive at the end, take a look at the effect that you could have. That should give you all the encouragement that you need to go forward and continue through the hard times. Also remember that you are not alone: there is a network of current mentors on your team and you are all there to help each other; there is also this wonderful community called Chief Delphi that has almost everything that you could ask for. And whatever isn't there at the moment, once you
do ask for it, it will probably show up within a few days.
7. What are some of the rewards you get as a mentor?
The rewards one gets out of mentoring are great and plentiful. I touched on these in my answer to question number four above. And I'm not going to deny it, winning a competition, or finishing up a finalist, or winning an award, or even doing well in qualifications all give a gratifying feeling despite the fact that this program is not purely about competition.
8. How do you feel FIRST and being a mentor has affected you and your life?
See the two posts that I linked to in question number three above.
9. What are some skills needed to be a mentor?
Patience is a virtue, grasshopper. Wax on, wax off. Most of the technical skills can be attained throughout your mentorship, however you need to be patient; you need to care about the kids; you need to be willing to put in the time and effort that this program demands and deserves. Do not make light of this commitment, however much of a worthy cause it is.
10. How have you used your background knowledge (profession) in being a
mentor?
I am still a college student...in fact, I've got four years to go =]. But from what I have done, I've been helping the kids organize themselves and work out a framework for the programming in this coming year.
11. What do you feel the biggest challenge of being a mentor is?
Sometimes the biggest challenge is convincing myself that this is all worth it. But that solves itself every time it comes up. The biggest challenge in my opinion is having to step back and let the children participate. Having been on a team for four years, sometimes I want to hop in and take over; but then I remind myself that i was once in their position, and I definitely did not appreciate it when my mentors did as I feel like doing now.
12. What do you believe is expected of you?
I do not believe that much is expected of me other than what I expect of myself. They do say that you are your biggest critic, and I full-heartedly believe that that is true. I expect myself to give my all to these kids, and I do not expect to let myself down. I expect to have fun while doing this, and I expect everyone on the team to have so much fun that they keep coming back. I expect myself to be able to impart knowledge to both the students and the other mentors.
13. In what way do you feel that you help the kids?
See question number four above.
14. What is your favorite part about it?
My favorite part about FIRST or my favorite part about mentoring? The two are radically different yet equally satisfying. My favorite part about being a part of the FIRST is the friends that I've made, the relationships that I've forged, and the sense of community that I've achieved. Who said it was all about the robots? My favorite part about mentoring is seeing the students' eyes light up at the sight of something really cool, and the warm feeling that I get when someone comes up to me and thanks me for the help that I've given them. It might sound cheesy, it might sound like a Hallmark or a Lifetime channel movie, but it's true and it is one of the best feelings in the world.
15. Why should someone become a mentor?
Everyone's reason for becoming a mentor is different and the incentive that will push someone to take this step also varies. However, my personal reasons were a desire to help, a want to influence the students, and a need to continue to be a part of the program.
16. Anything you might want to add!
Despite all the seriousness, do
not forget to have fun. That is one of the best parts of this program and do not let it get away.
--dan