College FIRSTers: What was your transitional year?

[Erin Rapacki]

I’ve been noticing a trend among many of the college students who participate in FIRST. There seems to be a year during a student’s college career when they either tone down their involvement in FIRST, replace some tasks for others, or quit FIRST entirely. I’d like to know, if you happened to participate in FIRST during college, if there was a transitional year for you and what you’re your circumstances. Did you plan ahead to take a break? Did it come up unexpectedly (exp: semester abroad)? Were you going to have an anxiety attack due to stress and decided that school/life was more important? What happened, and what were the results of your decision?

I’ve observed that many students who are just entering college (freshmen and sophomores) continue to be very excited about the program. They are mentors now, fantastic! They acquire new responsibilities, new ambitions, and over-involve themselves to the point of ignoring other obligations. They believe themselves to be fantastic mentors when in fact it is a misunderstanding; they are substituting over-involvement for ability to mentor well. They forget that it’s about quality and not about quantity.

Then, something hits!

{College student thinks} “Is it a chemical imbalance? What is happening! Should I feel bad that I don’t feel like doing FIRST much this year? Should I force myself to continue with tradition and build a robot? Or, should I take this year off and take the break my mind and body are craving? But wait! I’ll disappoint all my friends within FIRST because I’m not doing it this year. Ok, I’ll do it. I don’t want to upset everyone else. But, for some reason I’m not into it. Why?”

I’ve seen college students come back from this “year off” and be better mentors than ever before. I’ve also seen people never come back; they wore themselves too thin over the years. My opinion is this “year off” is a signature year from when a college student grows-up from a “recreate my high school FIRST team fun” phase into “become a true good FIRST mentor” phase. Do you agree or disagree? Why? What is your story?

When questioning my own involvement last year I felt bad because (I thought) I would be disappointing many other people. I spoke to somebody who works at FIRST HQ about my situation and they simply said, “It doesn’t matter how much/little you do, as long as you stay involved somehow.” This helped me feel a lot better. My decision was to step back from any kind of direct team involvement and focus only on the Beantown Blitz, Conferences, build:Boston:FIRST, and volunteering at events. I am proud of that decision and I can still feel good about making a difference.

If any of you college students in ChiefDelphi Land are going through a similar situation right now, this thread is meant to help you out. The idea is that if you stick to your priorities and trim-the-fat of being over-involved in FIRST, you will probably be a better mentor in the long run. There’s a lot to life out there, and college is the perfect time to explore every curiosity.

[/Pyro]

I'm a sophomore in college this year and I had the intentions of being back in my hometown full swing for kick-off. Classes prevented me from being at kick-off so I figured I would just read the documentation and go in the next weekend and be up on the times. Duties have pulled me away from the build team this year. Now that it is February, I have yet to step foot in to the "den" post-kickoff. Last week I was elected president of my fraternity so I can already see that I am not going to have near the free time I did last year to help support my team. I won't be able to attend any of their competitions.
I don't want to quite FIRST entirely, but it seems that this year will be my "year off". I hope to be back next year, however.

[Ian W.]

That year is this year for me, I think.

I'm a freshman at WPI, and I will admit, the fact that the school is (rather heavily) involved in FIRST definitely helped in the choice (it was hardly a deciding factor, but something that I liked). This year though, I haven't really been involved. I'm doing a lot of work with the Chairmans Award and other various awards, but not robot design/production. There's no real reason I'm not, I'm taking easy classes, I have the time, I just don't have nearly the ridiculous amount of motivation I did last year as a high school senior. I do participate on the team though, so it's not like I've completely dropped out.

I think the reason I half gave up is because the past three years were hell in January and February. For the first time since 2002, I'm not sick, I'm not all stressed out (even after that Differential Equations test!), and I have to say, I do like it. I plan on getting more involved next year, but in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy my half-off year, try to go to a few competitions and maybe Atlanta, and have fun.

[Beth Sweet]

I have actually been tempted many times to sort of back away from FIRST this year; to just back out. I guess starting a team my freshman year was probably a little intense... But now, even in my moments of absolute despising this team, one of the kids will do something that reminds me why I did this. Our team is a family now, and I think that my new family will do a lot for holding me together in the next 3 years.

As to there being more out there to explore, I most certainly agree! I have gotten involved in a lot of random things as well as a really fun group pertaining to my major. (and yes, I am passing my classes with all the extracurriculars) I love college, but I also need to be a part of FIRST. I found out a long time ago that this is where I have the ability to fit in; it's where I found the confidence to find myself.

[Christina]

That year was the my 3rd year in college...when I came up to RIT. I was still involved in the program and mentored a team and all but it wasn't the same. My first year I wasn't really treated like a mentor and my second year Michael and I were practically running a rookie team and then I came to RIT, became club president, and I was more involved in the college aspect of the club than the high school. This year is my first year completely away from a team, but that's because of senior design. I don't have the time to put into a tream this year. But, I think, my 3rd year on...every year I move a little farther and farther away from FIRST. I don't really think that I'm giving up on FIRST, I just think I might be moving on. I am graduating and I don't really know if I'll be involved with another team. But hey, you never know, maybe I'll work for a place that supports a team and I'll get to see yet another side of the program.

[Ian W.]

Hey Christina, you forgot to mention that you all but ran SBPLI for what, three years? I think that's a bit more than any of the rest of us can say we've done ;-).

Too bad you're not doing it this year again (if my memory serves me correctly) because I'm still going to be at SBPLI, granted with a new team.

[Christina]

Originally Posted by Ian W.

Too bad you're not doing it this year again (if my memory serves me correctly) because I'm still going to be at SBPLI, granted with a new team.

Don't worry, Ian. They somehow got me to agree to be the Event Assistant this year, so you'll see me. Still not sure how...but, I always enjoyed doing it. Hopefully, spring quarter won't be so crazy so I won't midd tons of work. That's one thing though, I might not be on a team, but I can't seem to get away from Long Island.

[Ian W.]

Originally Posted by Christina

Don't worry, Ian. They somehow got me to agree to be the Event Assistant this year, so you'll see me. Still not sure how...but, I always enjoyed doing it. Hopefully, spring quarter won't be so crazy so I won't midd tons of work. That's one thing though, I might not be on a team, but I can't seem to get away from Long Island.

Haha, well maybe this year I'll help you out, payback from me for the past few years.

[patrickrd]

My transitional year was after sophomore year. Junior year I scaled back FIRST by about 90%. This was for several reasons:

- Team politics and the need to deal with high school parents was a distraction to my schoolwork and my goals. (although it was a good learning exercise to deal with difficult people)
- To encourage self-sustainability of my team, and reduce any reliance that the team had on myself (since I wouldn't be there forever). Also, to let other [younger] college students grow into the lead mentors for the team.
- To allow myself to move on and participate in a college-level autonomous robotics project... meet new people, new ideas, new philosophies, etc...

I *strongly* recommend college students to not get fixated on FIRST. It's great (seriously) to be involved with FIRST for a year or two while in college, but also realize that there's often tons of other opportunities you can take advantage of while in college. Why choose the same opportunity all four years?

[Mullen]

my year off was kind of forced upon me. i wanted to help my old team, 573, but they were forced to take a year off for a variety of reasons. also the fact that im 1.5 hours away didn't help much. the other reason was that Michigan State didnt really have any teams close by. but even so, the year off helped me adjust to college life and get my priorities straight. now that we have started a team here at MSU im glad to be back into the mix of things, this time helping the kids have the same great experience i had

[Tyler Olds]

After four years of intensive work on a robotics team, I wanted to keep going. However because I am not allowed to join my own team which is the closest one within 50 miles of my college. I will not be able to join a team until next year.

I really hated the idea of not being in FIRST. I actually went through a lot of panic of what I am going to do with all of my time. However once the build started, it became a lot easier to accept that I would not be joining a team and that the 2005 FIRST season would not fully involve me. There are a lot of times where I miss being on a team, however it is quite nice to have the free time and focus on college.

I still go back occasionally to check out how my old team is doing, however when I go back I lose interest quite quickly since I am not able to get involved.

I still plan on going to a regional or two and possibly nationals and I look forward to possibly joining a team next year. But as for now it is almost nice to have a break.

[Ashley Weed]

My transitional year was more of a timespan that encompassed many events, that not only changed me in FIRST, but made me as an individual grow up faster than expected. I went from an EXTREMELY over involved FIRST-a-holic student driver/operator traveling to all the off-seasons, scouted additional Regionals with my floor crew, headed up my scouting team, etc, etc.

Suddenly, I was unsure of what to do at 17 years old, getting ready to graduate high school, my driver career was concluding after such a long time, I was going away to school, and I was suddenly falling ill on top of everything. I panicked, I pulled myself out of my teams "happenings" and devoted myself to my schooling, my health, and my life in general.

Last Spring, Greg started with his reffing. I never really though it would take us to far. We ended up traveling as far as York, and he was invited to more and more places throughout the year. After spending the Summer and Fall around FIRST again, I just knew I couldn't spend another season away from it.

I am no longer going to be just "another teenager", while knocking on the door of twenty, I have decided to pull things together, and get back to my team this year to help out as much as I can. It has been very different though, I am no longer able to do the things I did for so many years. While I enjoyed working on the machines and fabricating, I think it has helped to "mentor" a different area of the team.

[Greg Perkins]

Well i think that year has hit me...

For the last year i have been thouroghly involved with team 134 from Pembroke, NH...however this year seemed to turn a lot of new corners i never expected, IE being heavily employed at my job, and always having a class fall over the scheduled meeting times...i just havent been able to give that 120% i had given last year, unfortunate, yes, however there is more to FIRST then being a diehard. Granted i was one for 5 years, i now have seen that getting good grades leads to more opprotunities in life, while building robots only goes so far.
Now i dont want to make it feel like im not a supporter of the program, but i found that this year is my year to gather my priorities and focus on school, and my darling above me in this thread...

However, I will be attending the BAE regional with 134 to help in the Pits again

I will also be attending Pittsburgh to work that regional as well

and i am also planning to attend Nationals as staff or as a freelancer..

Hope everyone has a great semester, and bon voyage!

[Aaron Lussier]

My transitional year is this year.

I worked with 151 for 4 years, I mentored last year, but this year I just didnt feel it. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do with my life, and it doesnt seem to be working, I'm trying to find a job so I can have some money in the back for whatever I do, but now that is starting to get tough. I'll figure it out eventually though, I always do.

[Jeff Waegelin]

My "transitional year" was last year. I had been a student on 201 for three years (2001-2003), and then graduated and came here to the University of Michigan. Following the 2003 season, 201's teacher moved to a different school, and most of the student leadership graduated. Seeing a lack of experienced membership on the team, I decided to come back part-time to help ease the transition and bring some much-needed expertise. Unfortunately, somewhere in there, things didn't quite work out as planned. I basically spent most of my time filling more of a student role than a mentor role, which was neither my goal, nor my intentions at the beginning of the 2004 season.

After weeks of feeling unappreciated and underutilized, I realized that I was trying to recreate my high school team, which didn't really exist anymore. I stuck around through the end of the season, to fulfill the committment I made in January, but I knew that is was the end of my time with 201.

Though my experience that year was slightly less than satisfactory, it taught me a great many things about how to and how not to be a mentor. I think it took a year like that for me to fully grasp the difference between being a student and being a mentor, and I'm probably better off for it. Now I'm mentoring a local team here in Ann Arbor, and I feel that my "transition" if not complete, is on the right track.