Students Graduating to Mentors

[dachickindapit]

I'm the only one to have done this (so far) from HOT. Because of the environment in which the team operates, the only mentors we can have are either GM employees or employees from the school district (liability issues with the shop). If a person fits one of those two categories, they can mentor. We have one student this year trying to do it, like I did.

Keep in mind that going back to your old team right away has its own challenges. There is sometimes an issue of respect, as the other members of the team see you as just another student, not a mentor. For me, I wanted to jump in and just do everything, and had to learn how to step back and guide the students in doing things, rather than doing them myself. Learning how to be a mentor is part of things.

Also, PLEASE remember that when it comes to a choice between college work and FIRST, to put the focus on college. It's way too important in today's society. You'll have other chances at FIRST, and I am having way more fun as a "full-fledged" adult than I did as a college mentor, since I had to juggle the two.