Quote:
Originally Posted by JaneYoung
The good news is that your coach spoke with them about it. Talk with your coach about it. There are ways to involve the whole team in bringing about attitude changes and behaviors through some team building exercises. It is helpful to involve them in the change process rather than just tell them they have to change.
The important thing is to keep showing up, prepared and ready to work. You are making a difference in yourself and in your team. Part of being prepared is dealing with the frustration and the struggle with maturity, self-respect, and humor.
Jane
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This quote was in response to a post that has been deleted. I am a little concerned and would like to share a few thoughts.
Whether we like it or not, some of the opportunities to develop and become a part of a robotics team can be impacted by attitude, behavior, cliques, and carelessness in ways that are less than positive and supportive. A robotics team is like a wheel that makes a rotation. The rotation occurs yearly as veteran teams move up to the next grade level and freshmen enter the team. It never stops but is a continual cycle of incoming and outgoing students on the team. To make this cycle a healthy and robust one, teams have to identify areas that will fortify the process of welcoming new members and helping them become productive and happy as they grow into veteran team members - while at the same time, the seniors prepare to move on.
For teams who have no girls or a very small minority of girls, there are some potential barriers that can block the willingness to make inroads into changing the dynamics of the team, improving its diversity. When there are only one or two girls on a team, everyone has to make a commitment to help make their time on the team productive in positive ways. It isn't something that can be taken for granted or ignored. If team members are made to feel like they don't fit in or belong, they will feel that way. If team members are made to feel like they have no skills worth developing or exploring, few will try. If team members are made to feel useless and invisible, they will feel useless and invisible. On the flip side of the coin - if team members are made to feel welcome, they will feel welcome. If they are encouraged to pick up a tool, help in the design process, learn why programming is so important, participate in a demonstration - they will feel a sense of accomplishment and their experience will become valuable. They will like that they are a part of something that is making a difference in their lives and in the community that they are a part of.
Everyone is a freshman at some point in the process. Newness begins again at some point in the process. A senior who graduates high school and becomes a freshman in college. A college graduate begins a new life stepping into the world of careers and opportunities. A cycle continues. In a team, the beauty of the cycle and how well that it is managed and cared for, is what helps the team be self-sustaining and strong, creating further opportunities for everyone involved.
Welcome your freshmen and help them grow. Freshmen, show up prepared to learn and to become a part of the team. Don't quit or give in, stay the course. Someday you will be a veteran team member and it will be your turn to welcome the freshmen.
Jane