Mentor Recognition Week

[KathieK]

I would like to thank Jenny Beatty. Jenny has been a mentor to me for several years. She had the inspiration to start NEMO while mentoring her son's FRC team. She is one of the original FIRST Senior Mentors. She has been instrumental in the organizing of the FRC Chesapeake Regional and several off-season events in the Baltimore area.

I appreciate being able to bounce ideas off her, to have someone just listen to me rant, to offer suggestions when I am undecided. Thank you, Jenny. You may think you're taking a sabbatical from FIRST but we won't let you go that easily!

[Akash Rastogi]

As tomorrow is father's day, I just wanted to bring this thread up again to thank all the mentors out there who act as role models and father figures to many students. There's some great mentors out there who just take their roles to the next level and act as second fathers, and I just wanted to say thank you to them.

I was reading through Andre Agassi's final speech after his last match and this made me think of my mentors:

Andre Agassi-
"You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams, dreams I could have never reached without you."

Thank you all for all that you do.

[Katie_UPS]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

As tomorrow is father's day, I just wanted to bring this thread up again to thank all the mentors out there who act as role models and father figures to many students. There's some great mentors out there who just take their roles to the next level and act as second fathers, and I just wanted to say thank you to them.

I'm a person that loves to read FIRST stories. Does this mean that people should still share their mentor stories? *hope*

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Katie_UPS

I'm a person that loves to read FIRST stories. Does this mean that people should still share their mentor stories? *hope*

Of course!

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Katie_UPS

I'm a person that loves to read FIRST stories. Does this mean that people should still share their mentor stories? *hope*

I have a thank your mentor story. My story is a thank your mentors story.

Very recently, I re-joined my favorite FRC team, FRC 418, LASA Robotics. I was absent from the team for the 2008/2009 season. Our team competes in BEST and in FIRST, so I missed a lot. Yesterday was one of the camp days of our annual SMART Camp and I attended. It was my first opportunity to spend a day with the team and with the parents in the Parent Association. It was a beautiful time watching the campers partner with members of the team to learn about building, programming, and about our team. I also had fun helping with the shop tours for the parents that hung around. It was a good day.

What that triggered though, was the thankfulness that I have for the interactions and mentoring that I have received from mentors involved with FRC, FTC, and FLL teams throughout the country. The mentoring has come from travels to off seasons, regionals, the Championship, and through private messages and e-mails. Technical mentors and non-technical mentors have taken the time to share their wisdom, positive attitudes, and team histories with me. In doing so, it has allowed me to be on the receiving end, able to bring that inspiration back to my region and to my team. Mentoring is very humbling and very real and it helps create change.

My list is very very long but I would like to acknowledge and thank a few that have been patient, kind, selfless, and filled with humor in teaching and mentoring me: Andy Baker, Sarah Plemmons, Al Skierkiewicz, Heidi Foster, Mark McLeod, Chris Fultz, Wayne Cokeley, Wayne Penn, Kathie Kentfield, and Jenny Beatty.Their generosity and sharing of knowledge and experience is empowering, energizing, and earnest, and I am a better person for it.

I'd also like to thank Tony Bertucci and Danny Diaz for the promise of adventure, excitement, and life-changing experiences that they continue to offer as lead mentors for FRC 418.

With respect,
Jane Young