Seeking advice / opinions

[3195mentor]

I figure this is as good a place as any to post this. (please be sure to vote up top!)

As stated in my title, I am the lead mentor for Helix Charter's robotics team. We are primarily an after-school based team and, including the two faculty advisers and myself, have a total of 3 mentors for the team.

My dilemma here is that I am starting to struggle financially. I am paid through a grant the school gets, however it is barely enough to get from my house to the school twice a week for one month (a 30-minute drive each way). This is why I have taken into consideration joining the military, but this is where the plot thickens... I am an 8-year FIRST veteran, and the most knowledgeable mentor on our team. The two faculty advisers only have one year (barely) under their belt.

On the one hand, I need a better financial backbone to help support my parents during this tough economic time; and on the other hand, I do not want to let my students down by leaving them mid-way through the season... I am stressing out quite a bit with this decision and would like to see what others think of my predicament. If you have any questions please feel free to ask and I will reply with the answer, as well as update the main posting with the question/answer for others to see.

-----***answers to previous questions***------
- I haven't held an official job since Feb. MANY job openings and interviews, but have not gotten the job (ironic... isn't it?), and my money is running out faster than BP's spending on the gulf cleanup...

- I have no idea how busy my schedule would be in the military as a systems/network engineer or cyber security analyst. I have a few friends in the Marines and Air Force, but they barely get enough time to chat once a week...

- Unfortunately both instructors have after-school tutoring classes for science / physics, but allow us to utilize the classroom. The students would not get the same attention that I have given them in the past.

- Team 812 is close by and might be able to help, although I'm unsure about how efficient or convenient it would be for them. I will have to look into that.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and input,


Jason McMahon
Lead Mentor / Volunteer instructor
Helix Charter High School
Team 3195 - The RoboNinjas