I want to be an FTA

[frcguy]

Originally Posted by bkahl

You missed a step, at least in MN. Safety glasses table for anyone under 21, seeking a KV role.

Shots fired

[EricH]

Originally Posted by frcguy

Shots fired

Hey, you mean we don't stick 'em on crowd control anymore in CA? [/]



I don't think we're quite as drastic out here, but you do need to put in your time. Do that, and you'll be remembered when the bigger jobs come up.

Paraphrased conversation from the second time I volunteered for ref (bearing in mind that I'd been field setup/teardown, spare parts, field reset, and inspector for this particular VC before, and inspected and reffed elsewhere that year):
VC: Are you sure about this? I can't say you've reffed before.
Me: I reffed a couple weeks ago, at [other event]. [Head Ref at this event] is aware, you can ask him. I heard the ref allotment was increasing, so I figured I'd better get in before the recruiting party arrived.
VC: OK.
[I ended up reffing the event.]

Paraphrased conversation a couple years later, same VC, same event:
VC: We're short on refs, do you mind if I put you as a ref?
Me: Sure, go ahead. But here's why I didn't volunteer, are you OK with that?
VC: Yep, we can work with that.


The point I think most of us are trying to make is that you need to put in the time before you can get the "spotlight" jobs. Put in that grunt work, and after a couple of years you'll be more able to work your way up to where you think you want to be, or you'll have learned that you don't want to be there. Word travels fast among VCs and KVs as to who is and isn't a good fit in a good job, and what their current record is.


OP: As you're evidently still in high school, roles are somewhat more limited. There's a certain amount of maturity needed for many roles; however, I think Field Reset would be a good start. That's a role that will keep you on your toes. Screwups won't be as obvious, but you still need to minimize them--the field staff will kind of know who isn't closing the gates fast enough... And, it's a role that constantly needs people. You'll also have a chance to see what the FTA goes through and if it's actually going to be a good fit.


Jim, I'm not quite sure I'd go the CSA route. The CSAs tend to be long-tenured FIRSTers, or very deep into the control system (say, multiple beta tests), at least out here. (I want to say that if you grab 5 CSAs out here, you're likely to get between 50 years and 100 years of FIRST experience.) It wouldn't hurt to explore that route, but if anything it's even tougher than the FTA's role. If the FTA's stuck, the nearest CSAs are the first people he's looking for if a robot is involved!