How has your involvement in FIRST affected your career choice?

[Éowyn]

Originally Posted by TravisE

Robotics has affected me greatly before robotics I had no idea of what I wanted to do. Now I know exactaly what I want to do and what that is is Aerospace Engineering. Because I find space travel amazing and flight to be amazing. Even though I have never flown in a plane and I'm afraid of heights. I would still love to fly planes and to go up into the space station and look upon the world that is my dream and I will try to do it if I can and lastly if NASA ever decides to go back to the moon I want to be on that flight to the moon.

Hey! That spot on the flight to the moon is already booked.

By me.

[rachal]

FIRST has actually made it harder for me to decide what kind of career path I'm going to pursue (although i'm only 16, so it doesn't particularly matter yet). Before robotics, I was only into CS and math. When I joined, I decided to do mechanical on a whim, and now I can see myself studying any one of ME, EE, CS, math, informatics, management, or physics. That's a lot to decide from, but I'm glad FIRST has opened me up to considering more fields of interest.

[Nick Seidl]

The affect of FIRST on my career I think is particularly unique. While many will tell you that FIRST was their reason for going into a particular field of engineering, or college engineering program, I went a very different route. Like most of you, I had an idea of what I wanted to be before I got involved (storm chaser), which ultimately changed to mechanical or manufacturing engineering.

After a year of engineering at Purdue, I found that engineering just wasn't for me. While I was surviving academically, there was more theory than practice than I expected, and I realized that most engineers only spend the first few years of their careers doing real design work. I began to consider other career options.

Now at this point, I had spent a year as a mentor with 461. As enjoyable as FIRST was as a student, I found being a mentor to be all the more rewarding. Ultimately, I chose a career in Technology Education. After moving to the new Purdue team, 1646, in 2005, I have spent as many years mentoring as I did participating as a student. I am looking for the first job of my career, of which paticipating as a teacher mentor will surely be a part.

[ambie_o7]

i joined FIRST as a freshman, and after attending the portland regional, i knew that robotics (electrical and programming) was what i wanted to do... im going to major in electrical engineering next year (along with 2 of my other friends, one of which i dragged into FIRST)... hehehe...

[les chortos]

I reply to this question as someone who is at the other end of the career- I have 27 years as an Engineer in the auto industry and have been a mentor with our local FIRST team (773) Kingsville Kukes Ontario, Canada for 4 years. I have found it very rewarding and fun to say the least- It should be mandatory that every corporation fund and mentor a team. I have found it sharpens my "old" engineering skills as well as helps "keep me young feeling". I hope to not sound selfish by this - but it is true. - It is too easy as one ages to fall victim to routine - It is nice to see the youth get enthused over math science and the competition.

I am bit concerned however that our local team 4 years ago was very hard working and dedicated. Over the past 3-4 years the caliber and disipline of the student has degraded to the point its almost a social club. We are at a crossroads with this team and need to make some real hard decisions in the next year or so or it will die. I do not want to see this - but the work and dedication has to start within each individual- I cannot make or force a student to work-. there also seems to be a total indiference with the attitude toward FIRST.

I am thinking it may be time to cease the existence. We are a small school 550 students in the entire school. The band 200 kids- we barely get 15-20 for a team and they are not very dedicated.

any other mentors sensing this same thing ? I would be very interested in hearing from you.

or as a mentor am I doing something wrong??

Les.

[les chortos]

I reply to this question as someone who is at the other end of the career- I have 27 years as an Engineer in the auto industry and have been a mentor with our local FIRST team (773) Kingsville Kukes Ontario, Canada for 4 years. I have found it very rewarding and fun to say the least- It should be mandatory that every corporation fund and mentor a team. I have found it sharpens my "old" engineering skills as well as helps "keep me young feeling". I hope to not sound selfish by this - but it is true. - It is too easy as one ages to fall victim to routine - It is nice to see the youth get enthused over math science and the competition.

I am bit concerned however that our local team 4 years ago was very hard working and dedicated. Over the past 3-4 years the caliber and disipline of the student has degraded to the point its almost a social club. We are at a crossroads with this team and need to make some real hard decisions in the next year or so or it will die. I do not want to see this - but the work and dedication has to start within each individual- I cannot make or force a student to work-. there also seems to be a total indiference with the attitude toward FIRST.

I am thinking it may be time to cease the existence. We are a small school 550 students in the entire school. The band has 200 kids- we barely get 15-20 for a team and they are not very dedicated.

any other mentors sensing this same thing ? I would be very interested in hearing from you.

or as a mentor am I doing something wrong??

Les.