Quote:
Originally Posted by jpmittins
My robotics team, the Cheltenham side, is run by a less-than-knowledgeable teacher who is not aware of all of the rules. My friend is graduating this year, and is looking forward to coming back in the 2010 season. However, the teacher believes that a student must stay away from their team for at least two years before they can begin to mentor or assist their old team. I am almost positive (as is my friend) that this rule was made by the teacher who used to run the second part of the team, the Springfield side, in order to keep a certain person from not joining the team again, since he did not represent the true spirit of FIRST. However, my teacher, the one who is still on the team, is under the impression that is a actual, official rule of FIRST. Can I please have some of the older members of FIRST share their knowledge and wisdom with me so my friend can continue to help out the team next year?
Sorry if this is convoluted, I haven't been on forums in ages, and only just joined Chief Delphi. Hello everyone!
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The question that first comes to mind, is your friend coming back as a mentor or as your friend? Is he coming back to help out or hang out? These are important questions to ask your friend. If they genuinely want to help I see no reason to turn away help provided they can do so in a mature fashion that benefits the team and your friend.
One thing I have learned over the last 2 years of mentoring was that I was not ready for it. I may know enough but I was simply not ready to handle the responsibility. I don't know if your friend is but this is another question he needs to ask himself.
Your friend also should consider that there are many more important things in college than FIRST. Grades are what everyone will say first and foremost but there is also a social aspect. I know that as a result of my involvement with FIRST in college I miss out on a lot of social events.
Officially FIRST has no stand on it but if your teacher doesn't want young college students helping out that is their choice. Ultimately it comes down to your friend, if they feel they are mature enough and the teacher feels they are mature enough then give it a shot. Blanket rules like "No college mentors" are ok so long as it is possible to make exceptions. Never forget, sometimes a college student needs FIRST more than the students they are mentoring.
Just my $.02