Passion for FIRST

[JoeXIII'007]

I went to one of my team's Wal-Mart Fundraisers yesterday, and when one of the members arrived, he looked at me and said "I thought you graduated?"

I responded, "Yes I did, but now I am a mentor."

However, I have to confess, I have had a major temptation to just leave the team and move on with my life, but I constantly think to myself in return, "If you do that, you won't be looked highly upon by those you left, if not talked about in not a good way."

I have been around FIRST since Fall of 2001 when I joined Lego League at Middle School, still remember the day my older sister called to say they won nationals in the static of screaming people, still talk to members from that great day, and they are some of the greatest people I know.

And though the team has changed significantly, and so have times, I love my team, and more importantly, I love FIRST, and even more so important, I live with a belief system that says this is worth spending time as a volunteer mentor with.

I just have to remind myself, "Just wait for the parties and celebrations *cough*... I mean competitions in March and April, and you'll be reminded of why your in this gig."