A hard decision for a college student

[Elyse Holguin]

I've come to a sort of crossroads in my life, and am wondering if any other college students have felt the same problem.

I have decided to take a year off from a team. This does NOT mean I'm taking a year off from FIRST, but I no longer have the team affiliation. I graduated in June, and was dead-set on coming to college and applying to join 461 (I go to Purdue.) Only thing is, I got here, I went to the FIRST callout, and decided I really don't want to let go of the things I had back on my high schol team in order to join a new one. Don't get me wrong, I do want to help out kids to realize what a wonderful thing it is to join FIRST, and all the benefits you can get from being in it, and one day I want to be as good of a mentor as those I had while I was on 71. I just don't want to start this all now.

Has anyone else felt this too? Like, you really want to do something, but you just can't, and it's not like anything's physically stopping you?

Before I end this, I would like to thank Team Hammond for helping me grow, a wealth of knowledge, experience, and overall good times during my quite awesome run with them. You guys rock. I will always be proud to have been a part of the team (even the times when we argued like monsters, and those times you made me a human burrito and threw me on the ground outside my hotel room door. That really hurt. I had an ugly bruise.).

[Ashley Weed]

Wow, you are me a year ago. I was originally going to WPI - "The World of Robotics", however, a sudden and abrupt change in my life with illnesses, I was forced to accept a life here at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. With that change, I was looking forward to then working with 222 the Tigertrons, however, with continuing struggles in balancing college and my illness - it was a devastating no go. I absolutely LOVED Robotics, FIRST, and EVERYTHING about the whole season. I was devastated when it came kick-off time, and I would not experience the whole "feel" of FIRST for a year. I adapted to what I thought I could handle. As a two-year driver I could not get FIRST out of my blood.

If you are able, stay connected to the FIRST atmosphere in your own way. Become a field-reset, mentor Lego League, scorekeeper, find your own little spot in the large world we occupy. I have slowly adapted to being a cheerleader and supporting Greg through his reffing, even though I would do anything to experience being in that player station again.

[Jeff Rodriguez]

I've also been there. I had a the best senior year in FIRST and never wanted to quit. I decided to do to Drexel, but because of schoolwork, I wasn't sure how much time I would have to help out a local team.
The great thing about FIRST is that you don't have to help a team to stay involved. That year I volunteered to Ref the Philly Regional. I met great people and got an understanding of the larger scope of FIRST.
After a sub-par year at Drexel and some changes of heart, I'm now back in CT. I also volunteered at competitions last year. I met even more great people and had loads of fun.
Now I'm back helping out my former HS team. I also mentor a local FLL team, and plan on voluteering for more FIRST regionals this year.

You can always stay involved somehow, but you can choose how involved you are.

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

Wow. Actually sounds like what I'd have to do my Freshman year of college. While I'm not a college student, and while I wish I'd get to have you as a mentor, I hope you have an awesome year. As far as people have said, you can volunteer. Since we're hosting a regional (<-- selfplug ) you could probably be there without much strain, whether to attend to support the entire FIRST community or to offer volunteerism.

Either way, I hope you spread the love and I'll come visit you at the dorms .

- Genia

[Greg Needel]

I've said it before but not every active HS FIRST-ER can do it in college. when you are in college FIRST is an entirely different ballgame. and in my opinion most people come out of HS and look to first in college to fill the void for a "robot building good time" but this is not the case. college mentoring has it's own enjoyment (seeing students you inspire accomplish something, watching others enjoy and experience something that you did. but when it comes down to it FIRST is very different in college and it is OKAY not to do first at the same level in college. i honestly would recommend not doing it your first year because there are so many other things about college to enjoy that first might put a damper on your educational experience.

i guess what i am trying to say is that there is a place in FIRST for everyone no matter their age but that place changes as the years go on and that is fine. Just remember to apply the things you learned in FIRST to you life and be a success, that is all Dean wants with his homework every year.

[Matt Leese]

I'm glad you made that choice given your reasoning. I've seen too many people try to mentor in college but do so for the wrong reasons. When that happens, it's frequently bad for the students and also bad for the mentor. The students don't get the mentoring they need and the mentor gets fed up and leaves FIRST.

Not working with a team is a hard decision to make. That doesn't mean you can't be involved with FIRST. It's important to realize that you can choose your involvement with FIRST. Don't assume that there's anything you have to do.

Matt

[Adam Y.]

I'm glad you made that choice given your reasoning. I've seen too many people try to mentor in college but do so for the wrong reasons. When that happens, it's frequently bad for the students and also bad for the mentor. The students don't get the mentoring they need and the mentor gets fed up and leaves FIRST.

I am curious. What reasons do people try to mentor? At this point it's all work and no play makes Homer go crazy. I oddly have a lot of time on my hands being a engineering major.

[Billfred]

See, this is the beauty of FIRST--you never sign your life away for it. (although there is the argument that you can take the person out of FIRST...)

I kicked around the idea of going teamless for a stretch, but I guess I'm afraid to miss something. (And I need an excuse to go back to Irmo sometimes. Yes, kids, you can go home again.) So I took JVN's pledge. 3.3 or better, here I come!

There's still the regionals. (I keep saying that to myself...it seems to help.)