[JaneYoung]

Here's a few thoughts that were behind the question -

For a few years now, I've been concerned about the cynicism of young mentors who have been through the FIRST program. I am concerned (to a lesser degree) - by the cynicism in college age students in general - but when one attaches the label, mentor, to their name, then I naturally begin to think about how cynicism, bitterness, and even ugly attitudes can affect the younger students that they mentor or say that they do. Not all college students or college mentors are cynical, bitter, or ugly but there are enough that I have had concerns. So I've wondered what happened to the attitude towards GP. Was it never there or did it disappear over time or as the students became mentors?

FRC, FTC, and FLL offer opportunities for students to work with adults in areas of problem solving, working towards mutual goals, developing strategies for working together as a team, and producing a product. All of these areas in which students are mentored can be and are applied in real world environments. What is different is the added expectation that is called Gracious Professionalism. It can be a very real expectation that can become a very real part of the team make-up, philosophy, reputation, and commitment. As students grow up through that, literally and figuratively, it can help shape their outlook and their perspectives and help them design the path they will choose to walk, follow, or create in their career and in their life. By designing their path mindfully - they bring opportunity for Gracious Professionalism to enter into areas, places, environments where it has not been seen or noticed before. Young people love to have heroes, idols, and rock stars in their lives and they admire college mentors. There's a lot of power there that can influence, affect, impact, change, and encourage. In positive or negative ways. College age students are busy creating and determining their path and that's fine and dandy. When they add the word, mentor, to that, there is a responsibility that goes with it. What I've ended up with in my thinking is that it only takes the light of one candle to illuminate darkness, simply by entering that space. When many lights are added, the space glows and shines brightly. There's nothing false or fake about that.