Sippin' on the haterade

[E. Wood]

Originally Posted by Patrick Chiang

Agree. Teams that don't utilize mentors well, don't do well. Unfortunately, the opposite may not be true.

I guess it depends on how you define "doing well" or "successful" when it comes to a FIRST team. Does it mean winning awards or positively impacting the lives of those that come in contact with the team?

I have found that chasing awards isn't always the best way to get them and I dont think any of us do this for the plastic trophies or the blue banners.

[Patrick Chiang]

Originally Posted by E. Wood

I guess it depends on how you define "doing well" or "successful" when it comes to a FIRST team. Does it mean winning awards or positively impacting the lives of those that come in contact with the team?

I have found that chasing awards isn't always the best way to get them and I dont think any of us do this for the plastic trophies or the blue banners.

Well, it's sometimes in the back of our minds when we build the robot. It's a competition, and we're doing our best to build the best/most creative robot for that. We're human, competitive by nature. I think very few people in teams in FIRST, even mentors, can claim that they don't get excited when their team wins (or disappointed when the opposite happens).

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but teams that don't utilize mentors tend not to do well in either of your definitions.

[darkMatt3r]

This thread is unnecessary.

FIRST clearly states that it is up to the teams to determine the relationship between the mentors and the students.

Yes, there are ways to benefit the kids, and there are ways to benefit the success of the team. There are also ways to do both. Everyone has their different method, and everyone has their opinion of what other teams do.

Use your time to help your team out, not judge others.

-Matt

[E. Wood]

Originally Posted by Patrick Chiang

Well, it's sometimes in the back of our minds when we build the robot. It's a competition, and we're doing our best to build the best/most creative robot for that. We're human, competitive by nature. I think very few people in teams in FIRST, even mentors, can claim that they don't get excited when their team wins (or disappointed when the opposite happens).

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but teams that don't utilize mentors tend not to do well in either of your definitions.

O, I get excited whenever we when a match or a trophy but I would still mentor even if we didn't.

Yes I agree with you that teams that don't untilize mentors correctly don't tend to do well while teams that do use them well will most likely succeded by some measure.