[JaneYoung]

I've spent time in recent years, mentoring mentors who are pushing as hard as they can to cross the fine lined barrier of reality for their students, and move them towards their goals of broadening the scope of that reality by encouraging education, the pursuit of education, and the pursuit of dreams that can become reality - through education - when the real world is telling, showing, shoving down the throats of some of these students (and their parents), that education, the pursuit of education, and dreams becoming reality - are trivial and unimportant. We work together to find ways to make education real, valued, and to help students understand that mentors and teachers can be trusted in their knowledge and experience. The students must trust us enough to know they can board a plane to a distant event, leaving everything they know, and will come back with a broader understanding and awareness of their place in the world, in our society, and in the culture that we are helping to create.

These mentors and teachers are striving to help students take that step towards a high school diploma and move on towards submitting that college application - as first generation high school graduates and college students. They ask a lot. They push hard. They sweat. Many students in FIRST know and see what is called, manual labor. Many have respect for it because it is what feeds and clothes them.

Yes, what we are doing in FIRST is important regarding the science and technology side of things - but digging down deep, uncovering hidden talent, dreams, ideas, tenacity, intelligence, and opportunity - are just as important. Especially in the hearts of the mentors, teachers, and students that are moving the road blocks to the path that leads to discovering the value of education - through sheer guts and determination.

Come to Texas. I can introduce you to some incredible mentors, teachers, and students - who are grappling with this daily. Come to Texas and join us.

Jane