Question of the Week!!! (7/19/04)

[Joshua May]

I have to say my team's new mentor for last year, Paul Schmidt. He came in to the project not knowing much about the program, just what he saw from visiting for a day at competition. But he worked very hard to see this team, and more importantly its members, succeed.

[tiffany34990]

i have had many great mentors over the years-- this is soo hard to pick just one that has help me this year and years passed. But THANKS to all the great mentors on my team for helping but i really would like to say a big thanks to Jack our machinest. He joined our team and made a huge contribution. He is willing to teach us everything he knows about each machine. Without him this year, we wouldn't have been able to make as many parts as we did in our pit. He got hooked to FIRSt so we're glad he is gonna stick on-- if u ever want to know anything and S.P.A.M. is around and he's there in the pits-- go up and ask him. He'll be happy to help and finds other ways to solve a problem. He def. knows the tricks to the trade.

[Adare180]

Originally Posted by tiffany34990

i have had many great mentors over the years-- this is soo hard to pick just one that has help me this year and years passed. But THANKS to all the great mentors on my team for helping but i really would like to say a big thanks to Jack our machinest. He joined our team and made a huge contribution. He is willing to teach us everything he knows about each machine. Without him this year, we wouldn't have been able to make as many parts as we did in our pit. He got hooked to FIRSt so we're glad he is gonna stick on-- if u ever want to know anything and S.P.A.M. is around and he's there in the pits-- go up and ask him. He'll be happy to help and finds other ways to solve a problem. He def. knows the tricks to the trade.

During the season, I was never in the pit (except for taking pictures and such) and now, I give thanks to Mrs. Lee and Jack for introducing me to the pit. Mrs. Lee is one of our mentors, as well as a teacher, who does a great deal for the team. She organized a Girl's Camp for the girls on our team as well as help us in our plans to make the RCU an active organization in Florida. Hopefully, with the help of mentors like Mrs. Lee, we can get more girls intrested in robotics, and help all girls learn, that they too can do anything. ***To Tiffany: You are the student on our team I aspire to be someday. I'm sure you will be our best team captain yet. I will miss you sooo much next year. It's so sad, this is your last year on our team.

[Arefin Bari]

Its really hard to decide whos the one who helped through your FIRST experience.. when you have all these great mentors, teachers and FIRSTers around you... working with you 24/7, helping you out anyway possible... some names... Felix alvarez from my team (our mechanical engineer who has been such a great friend and a great mentor), Mr. Stan Shelton ... (our teacher who has been working with the team and organizing everything)... Andy Baker (an Engineer whom everyone admires... everytime when i had a technical question.. i had a solution from him) Gary Dillard, erik, matt, tiffany, mary (pit crews of SPAM) has always helped me, they gave me two globe motors which made our robot arm work at nationals... Ron and Jim from 107 (looks like they always bring their machine shop for our team)... Brandon Martus and DJ (any problems with chiefdelphi for me gets solved in min)... my fellow FIRSTers... Tytus, Mike walker, Andrew Rudolph, George (1083), Dan (studmandan), Ryan, Abe, Peter, Mandie (179)... from my team... jimbo (specialagentjim), Michele (co manager with me for the mechanical team), Matt Kaplan (matt_kaplan108)... they are always there when i need them...

then Finally My family... they have always supported me with my decisions, when i first asked my dad about joining robotics, his response was "i trust you... do what you think is right... just follow your heart"... mommy always tells me that concentrate on what i am doing... and my younger brother is following me to be a FIRSTer...

just like i said to one of the newscast people at UCF... "when i first joined back in my freshman year... i thought this is just one of my side activity, hobby or spare time activity... but after time has passed by throughout my sophomore year, junior year ... FIRST has become my life... and i admire all of my fellow FIRSTers..."

[Swampdude]

Every year I get to do this, there's a student or two that I watch engage in creativity and get excited about building something cool, and wanting more. It all reminds me of when I was a kid and used to tear everything apart and construct whatever I could. Learning like this is unequaled in our society. To be a part of that, and to help them in it is an honor. Though as mentors we may not be perfect or even suited for it, regardless the students themselves benefit from the shear scale and nature of this event/process and the environment we create for them.
That said Tytus really reminds me of how I was. He can't get enough and isn't hindered by anything (which was dangerous in the beginning). He's matured drastically since he started. I remember the first meeting he came to. He was frantic and wirey whizzing around a video game, not paying attention. But as soon as we got his hands dirty, he was scarred for life. At first I was afraid to leave him alone, now I have a great amount of confidence in him. He's really turned out great, and I'm very proud of him, he's going to be a contributor.
Also I've grown very fond of Amanda. She's such a great kid. From day one she's been as helpful as she could be. She's always been productive and focused. She's wanted to learn about everything, and it only took once to explain anything to her. She's very careful and skilled with her hands and puts quality into everything she does. She's also valedictorian of her school so that's testament to her character.
Fairly speaking I could go on about many kids, there really are a lot that I'm glad to have met. Many have graduated and gone to other things, but all seem to check back in and we get to see them. I hope FIRST and 179 live on to tell more stories like these. Thanks FIRST and Thanks to all the folks who plug in!

[R2K2D2]

As an advisor on Team 461, the single person who probably has left the biggest impression on me is Mr. Florence better known as Flo. Not only is Flo a great mentor to the HS students, he is a great mentor to the other advisors on the team. I know he doesn't frequent these forums, but he still deserves the recognition. Flo has taught me more than I can describe in words. Not only has he shown me how to be a good mentor and a good teacher, he's in a way kinda taught me about life. Anytime I have a problem or issue or just need someone to talk to, I can always turn to Mr. Florence. That's the great thing about him, rain or shine, good or bad, he is always there for you. He's opened up himself, his life and his family to not only me, but the entire team. He always talks about passion which is extremely important to him. I really never felt as passionate as a FIRSTer until I became an advisor on 461. Through him I have seen the kind of impact we have on students and the impact they have on us. Not only do his tasks include being a high school teacher, a husband, a father, but also a listener, a helper, a machinest, a FIRST mentor, and most of all a great FRIEND. There have been many nights long after a robot meeting is over at the high school where I have just sat around and talked to Flo, and that's the great thing about him, he's literally always there for you. It's no wonder why every student who steps in his classroom or on this robotics team loves him, because he is a great teacher, a great friend, and a great person. Thank you Mr. Florence, for having one of the largest impacts on my life, and even though I may be parting for a little while, I'll always be around to visit and always here in spirit. Thank you so very much.

[David Kelly]

Great QOTW, Andy. 2004 was my sixth year to be involved in FIRST and I'd have to say that it has been my greatest year ever. My role in FIRST has changed and I have had a new feel for the other side of FIRST. There have been so many people who have helped make an imprint on this season, but there is one person who has really stood out this year. In one short year, this person has turned from somebody that was afraid to talk to or even look at me to one of my best friends. I dont know how she manages to do all she does, and does it well. She helped start a team at the HS academy at her college. She spends countless hours of her studying time and free time to work on UFH and IndianaFIRST. She is very dedicated person who will never give up on something she starts. I've thought about doing less FIRST until I had the opportunity to meet you. I now have a new drive in FIRST.

Amanda Morrison, I admire you as both an intelligent persion but also a great friend. I salute you!

[Billfred]

Alright, I know I've answered this question already, but I'm going to put in an honorable mention.

On Thursday at the Championship, I was working on Archimedes doing real-time scoring. My mother was on Newton doing team crowd control. (If you were on a drive team, you probably met her and didn't know it.)

So in the afternoon, these three African-American kids come down to the very edge of the stands and get her attention...

Originally Posted by The Kids

Where do we sign up to drive one?!

I guess that also kinda influenced me in a way. I mean, if we're drawing attention from kids (they couldn't have been older than second or third grade), then I guess we are inspiring, eh?

[durant229]

I noticed that nobody from 229 has replied to this yet. So I'll make an attempt.

I'm sure everyone on our team can say that they looked up to a different person this year, or a one certian person changed the experience for them. And thats great. I can't honestly predict who's gonna say who.... But I know that I can't pin point one certain individual.

This was my first year on a FIRST team, and believe it or not I really enjoyed it. At the first meeting I attended, a camera was thrust into my hands and I was told to got take pictures. So as I watched in awe as College kids and High school kids just kept pouring into the room. And believe it or not, I actually made a connection with a lot of them. So as I took pictures of basically every moment that happened, I missed out on some of the building aspects. But even though I misssed out on some things, some certain people like JVN, and Eric Obriene, Chris Carnie, Adrienne, and the whole gang have made my FIRST experience more enjoyable and just amazing. There were also High school kids like Mike and Mikey and Amy and Karin and Aaron (B and J).

A lot of people in the country think that people who can build complicatde things like robots and take pride in it, are nerds. Well, this year I found out the truth. You guys are just a big... almost a family. And I know that's true with my team 229: Division by Zero. And I want to thank everyone, not just my team mates, but everyone who cares about the future of FIRST. Even though you may think that your doing a little job, it makes a big difference. And the High School kids really appreciate it, and enjoy what you do for them. So thanks.

I know this got off topic, but it's the truth. So even if I can't say who affected me the most, it would be the whole FIRST organization itself. Your just an amazing group of people. Congrats!