[Taylor]

Be creative! that is dangerous advice

1. What role do you play as a part of FIRST?
As faculty sponsor and coach, I organize all team meetings, set the budget, secure grants and large corporate sponsors, aid the students in robot design, fabrication, & assembly, organize team trips, and order pizza. There's probably more, but it's early in the morning.
2. How does FIRST help students for the future?
Because of what students learn from FIRST, they value education much more. It has also given some students college and internship opportunities that would have been very difficult otherwise. Finally, participating in FIRST allows students to develop problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership skills.
3. What has FIRST done for you?
FIRST has provided me with a motivation and a drive beyond the classroom walls. It gives me experiences I would normally have never had; experiences I can use daily as an educator. FIRST also inspires me to do my personal best and to inspire others to do the same.
4. What do you enjoy most about being a mentor?
I enjoy the cameraderie among all team members, student and adult. FIRST provides for relationships (both personal and professional) that would be very unlikely otherwise.
5. How did you become involved?
It was part of my job when I was hired.
6. What encouragement would you give to new/potential mentors?
Never throw anything away, when you're purchasing something for the robot, buy it in threefold.
7. What are some of the rewards you get as a mentor?
This is a difficult question to answer without getting excessively cheesy. Honestly, feeling the satisfaction and pride the students get from designing and building a competition robot, with minimal help from adults, is my biggest reward.
8. How do you feel FIRST and being a mentor has affected you and your life?
I have grown immensely as a leader and organizer. It has given me responsibilities and accountabilities beyond anything else I've done.
9. What are some skills needed to be a mentor?
Patience, perspective, and a fair amount of stubbornness.
10. How have you used your background knowledge (profession) in being a mentor?
The parts of my collegiate education I use the most as a mentor are the organizational leadership and supervisory components.
11. What do you feel the biggest challenge of being a mentor is?
The biggest challenge is to keep yourself and your team above the various negativities that evolve during a season.
12. What do you believe is expected of you?
Success.
13. In what way do you feel that you help the kids?
I offer the kids a constructive obsession outside of school hours.
14. What is your favorite part about it?
The best two days of the FIRST year are kickoff and last day of competition.
15. Why should someone become a mentor?
Because it is a surreal experience that nothing else can duplicate.
16. Anything you might want to add?
Yes.