Advice for Rookie You?

[smitikshah]

Also bonding with team members can make for a great team experience. My rookie year I stayed really closed off and didn't make great friends with people on my team. However, this year I opened up a lot and took part in a lot of team events/bonding experiences and now its so much more enjoyable and I made such great friends.

[Liam Fay]

Respect your leadership, there's a reason why they're the leadership.

[RoboChair]

Originally Posted by frcguy

Take advantage of any opportunities you are given.
-Always take advantage of opportunities that are presented to you. For example, I got to experience so much and learn so many things my rookie year from taking advantage of opportunities like visiting other team's shops, going to Champs, and just talking to people at events.

Speaking of this, I love showing other people our shop, what we did to acquire stupid amounts of shop equipment for cut-throat prices, and how theoretically we don't need it to be as successful as we are(It does make engaging more hands a very easy task however).

All you have to do is ask(PM is fine) and I can arrange it.

Please ask.

Originally Posted by thomasweese

Senior students will benefit from teaching you just as much as you will benefit from being taught.

This, very this. If I could go back and do it again I would bash my inept skills at teaching when I was on FRC 1678 Team EnGen and force myself to do some dang teaching of other people. Once you are decent at something the easiest way to get amazing at it is to teach others your skills. It puts you in a whole different point of view that really forces you to understand why you do what you do. I spent my first year as a mentor doing a crappy job of it because of my teaching skills, don't be me, learn to pass on your knowledge effectively.

[spat]

I know that most of the things that I wrote were already mentioned by other members. Here are some things that I would advise a rookie or anyone in general:

• If you are a driver, you should not be in pits unless it is absolutely necessary. As a driver, you must be focused on the game, not on what problems may the robot have. In other words, pits can be stressful, and stress affects everyone.
• Always mentor the rookies, especially if your team lacks consistent mentors.
• From season to season, new things can be made available for FRC teams. You should not build a robot using the technologies and methodologies that your team used 4 years ago. In other words, accept change and innovate constantly.
• Do not hesitate to kick out of your team members who don't aport something to the team (especially if they are not rookies). It may sound rude, but they are not a good example to the younger members of your team. It may also prompt them to participate more when they re-gain their interest in FRC.
• Everyone makes mistakes, even if they have a lot of experience. Conflicts will always happen. In some sense, this is good, since you can always learn from your mistakes (both on the practical side and on the emotional side).
• All-nigthers and marathons are not a good idea. Period.
• You will get experience just after you need it. This will happen many times.
• For the rookie to respect you, you must first respect the rookie.
• As much as you hate your safety captain, listen to what he/she says.
• Never lose interest in learning. Find some time to learn new things, even if at first you may think that you know enough. What we know its just the tip of the iceberg.
• Everyone in your team will come from different backgrounds, do not expect everybody to have a good technical background.
• Talk with your parents, teachers and friends before build season. This will save you from a lot of trouble that may come with build season.
• Take advantage of the opportunities that FIRST or its sponsors offer you, especially if you are from the US.
• Last but not least, do not over-involve yourself with robotics, try to balance FRC and the other aspects of your life (school, family, sleep, etc.).