How Can I Avoid Student Mistakes

[chubchub5577]

I am a Student on a team out of Kansas and last year I wired the new control system, told my mentor to check it, they said green light. Okay sweet! Plugged in the battery flipped the switch... Smelled smoke and my reaction was "Thats not my fault". (FYI It was my fault!) That day I learned to check that black wires are negative and red are positive I had the + and - switched on the PD board and fried the $200 board. I still get crap for it (But refuse to say it was all my fault my mentor checked my work!) I did learn though!