Mentor Poll - Who are you trying to Inspire?

[petek]

The longer I stay in FIRST the more I feel like a conduit for inspiration. When I started out I was trying to inspire the kids, but as I was helping them I was receiving inspiration back and passing it on to my co-workers. (I like to think I became a much better team leader at work after I started working with FIRST.)

Then I started meeting some really great mentors - people like Jenny Beatty, John Larock and Paul Kloberg (and yes, even Rich Kressly, who I worked with at 103) who helped me learn how to reach beyond my team and work with students on many other teams. In looking for sponsors for my team, I found myself setting up opportunities for other teams as well, like setting up sessions at scientific conferences where teams could expand their influence and students could make presentations. As much as I was trying to inspire these kids, they were inspiring all the people they met at those events, plus some!

Once I started working at regionals and off-season events I realized there were all these team alumnii coming back to help run things and I got more inspiration to pass on to students, coworkers and friends - and to help those college students learn how to run things even better.

For me, FIRST is inspiration with a positive feedback loop - it just keeps getting better. I wonder where it will go from here...

[Rich Kressly]

Pete,

I'll be mailing those unmarked twenties out in a plain brown envelope tonight...

Oh, as for the question, to me the answer is obvious. We need EVERYONE. Changing the culture is a lot of work and we need everyone on board, which reminds me, "We're gonna need a bigger boat."

[RoboMom]

Everyone and all the above.
I don't know how to turn it off.
But some of my most inspiring moments have come with the students who need this the most. And even after participating in the program, they might not go on to study science and technology in college but they are thinking about college and they are better world citizens and problem-solvers.

[Tetraman]

My mission isn't really about geting our team to build better or think better, but instead to have more pride for the team. When I was on the team, we never had any spirit and we always critisized the metors, drivers and the robot itself. I didn't want our team to be a team, I wanted out team to have some spirit and to actually get out and enjoy the time they have by cheering. Winning the Spirit award last year was just the seed. Ever since, the team is more apts to get up and cheer. We thank the mentors more and more. I'm just the Mentor that gets everyone in that mood to get out there. I'm the speech before the big game.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

I intend to inspire the entire society. I tell everyone I know about FIRST and robotics in general. I get very redundant but everyone knows about FRC and what our team does.

[kborer22]

it seems that everyone that participates goes through an evolution process, you may start just wanting one thing for your team, or just wanting to participate in general, but it doesn't stay that way for long. I joined the program and with in 2 years i was far more involved then i had ever imagined. I became a team co captain and my role kind of evolved into the inspirational speaker. After a tough day of comp i stepped into the role of inspiring the team to keep their spirits up and "keep on keeping on" I have also spread first to every one i know, my girlfriend, and her family, and let me tell you by the end of my senior year the whole school knew about ht robotics team. And i hope to continue to keep on this pace, hopefully one day inspiring people at my job, and making an impact. I think one conclusion can be drawn from this though, those who participate have the drive to be great and inspire, and will continue it regardless of where they end up!

[Denman]

My answer : Any local schools that i can. Its hard work finding people at all willing to spend time to even hear me out ... i'm trying to get a team up and running but its just not going at all smoothely

[David Brinza]

I had to vote: society in general.

FIRST offers an opportunity to change the way the masses view science, math, engineering from a "grassroots" approach. When students get engaged, even excited, about doing something that is challenging and their peers, teachers, parents and mentors can cheer them for their efforts - that's inspirational and culture changing.

I got hooked on FIRST when I attended the last Championship at Epcot (2002). My son (now a computer science major at UCSB) was a member of Team 16 (Bomb Squad!). He invited me to the event and I certainly got caught up in the excitement of the competition. However, I was most impacted by a student from an inner-city school who wanted to tell me about his Team's robot and what he had built. For most kids living in that environment, the "way out" might be a sports scholarship and the faint hope of playing professional sports. I realized then that FIRST program offers a real alternative for anyone to become involved in the technological world.

As a mentor in FIRST, I feel I can reach the masses by inspiring the students on my team, who then inspire other students, parents, teachers, administrators, sponsors, ... , even society!

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I try to inspire anyone who looks like they will listen. OK so I'm an old guy and no one listens anymore, by I try. It is much easier to put a handle on a smaller group than "society in general" so I answered "all First Students". I am pledged to answer anyone I can, help when asked (and sometimes when I'm not) and to assist with young people when they are trying to find direction. Before FIRST there was Boy Scouts. It doesn't matter to me one bit whether a student wants to go to engineering or not. I want them to succeed, be happy and help others be just like them. Gracious Professionalism means all of this without really saying it. In the Boy Scout Law, a boy pledges to be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly and Courteous so it easy for me to participate in First. Same guidelines. It is not an easy road, and certainly not one that everyone will travel or stay on until the journey is complete. It works for me and I want it to work for others, too.

[dhitchco]

Just remember to "do your homework" and go out and INSPIRE your local politicians as Dean has asked!

Also, go out and INSPIRE someone NOT from the United States. We still tend to be an "insular" nation from the rest of the world. Show the rest of the world what a wonderful sub-culture that FIRST has created.....