[Alivia]

I always get nostalgic when I look at the reactions of other students who have gone through the FIRST program. It really does change lives for the better. Every person has his/her own history with a team (or teams). Every memory we make from those teams will always hold a special place in our hearts, no matter how far away we move or how old we get. It's the power that is FIRST.

It's also amazing to know as a mentor that I am helping to shape the students for the rest of their lives. I am giving them the time, patience, and confidence that I gained from my own mentors. They might look back at me and say I made a difference in their lives, just like others have made a difference in mine. I love this program--every minute of it--and feel so lucky to have gotten where I am today because of the amazing people involved in it. You all rock, more than you'll ever know.