Mentoring as a College Freshman

[Zach O]

I'd take a break for a bit. Personally, it was nice to take a step back. I still stayed involved with FIRST - I build things for the community, browse Chief, occasionally watch webcasts, volunteer at events - but I'm not directly involved with a team. After a year off, maybe evaluate if you have the time to get involved again, and if that's what you want to do. Just because you leave for a year doesn't mean you can't come back!

[Ian Curtis]

Most college students aren't mature enough to be effective mentors. I would not have admitted to this when I was in college, but it definitely applied to me too.

College is a great time to try other design competitions like Design/Build/Fly, FormulaSAE, FormulaHybrid, or just do your own thing. Chances are you won't be building competitive robots in your professional life, so you might as well try something else. FIRST will still be here in a few years should you decide to give back then.

[Rockwind79]

I just want to say you have to decide for yourself. Don't let any of us change what you want to do, just use what we say as advice not as the right or wrong way of doing things.

For me personally, mentoring as a college Freshman has not been that hard.IF you do you just have to balance you time and make sure you don't let your grades slip. It would be just working that time management skill that helps you later in life. But it is your choice in the end, hope this helps!

[IKE]

Originally Posted by Zach O

I'd take a break for a bit. Personally, it was nice to take a step back. I still stayed involved with FIRST - I build things for the community, browse Chief, occasionally watch webcasts, volunteer at events - but I'm not directly involved with a team. After a year off, maybe evaluate if you have the time to get involved again, and if that's what you want to do. Just because you leave for a year doesn't mean you can't come back!

I am a big fan of Zach's approach. Stay involved via volunteering and other elements. Volunteering at events can help you build up a useful network for when you return to mentoring.