Team Organization and Recruiting

[Collin Fultz]

Originally Posted by M. Krass

While I realize that sometimes issues are more complex than they seem and that this is often such a case, I just wanted to caution you to remember that you're around for the students; they're not around for you.

Productivity doesn't intimate inspiration. Inspiration may not lead to productivity.

Consider what purpose your team serves to those students that you find to be unproductive before you deny them the opportunities to be involved in a program that is unrivaled in high schools.

I agree with M. on this one. In my opinion it's all about the "I". However, it isn't up to the mentors to have to work to inspire the students, in my opinion. THe student has to put forth the effort. It is up to the mentors to decide who is letting the team inspire the student. It normally takes more than a year for a student to realize how amazing this program is (mentors too). I know it did for me. I barely did anything my first year, but after I found my role and realized how great FIRST is, i was in. I am so thankful that my team gave me the opportunity to travel to competitions where i could work on what I loved (communication). Now, I have learned to appriciate and excel in both aspects of the FIRST competition (the robot and the communication). Give the students a chance...let them niche (sp.?). Don't make them lose their spot on the team because they didn't build the robot...maybe those things aren't for them. GIve them a chance.