Am I mentor?

[EricLeifermann]

Being a mentor doesn't have an age requirement. As long as you are positively influencing someone you could be called a mentor and a role model.

[JaneYoung]

I once had a thought about creating something like a sub-forum for young mentors to create threads in and have discussions like this. I envisioned it to be something along this line - where students who have graduated from high school and moved on into helping on the mentor side of things could share thoughts and concerns. Young mentors can often be supported and listened to or advised in areas of concern for them by the mentors who have been around the block a few times can understand. Of course, if you are Al Skierkiewicz, your block has become trenched.

On teams, I think there are volunteer roles. Those roles are valuable and have to do with a lot of the organizational side of things or of providing something for the team. Our lead mentor may get out the word that he or the team needs a volunteer to help set up our sponsor reception or pick up something on the way to the shop. That's a little different than a mentor who works with the team directly, helping the team prepare for competition in specific areas. It is true that mentors can have a much bigger impact on the team and on individuals than in the specific area they work in. That is the mark of a true mentor - their impact. They can't force the impact, it just happens. I came across a post that Andy Baker made a while back. He was talking about mentors learning to empower others. I'll try to find that post - it was most excellent and may help you as you mull this over.

Be back in a little while.

Ok, found it. I like the lessons in this post that Andy offers to us. He teaches us to listen to the wisdom of other teams like our HoF team, FRC 191, and that mentors grow and develop just as students do and just as the FRC program does and has done.

After reading it, ask yourself a couple of questions:
1. do you hope to inspire and encourage the students you are working with?
2. do you hope to empower them by helping them develop skills and deepen their understanding of the importance of doing their job well?

Jane

[The Lucas]

Yup, you are a mentor now. If it feels odd now it gets even weirder when the last student who "knew you as a student" graduates. Then you are old . Happened to me a couple years ago.

They did a neat segment at Chesapeake Regional. They handed the mic to Head Ref Steve Shade, Lead Inspector Anne Shade & Announcer/Emcee Greg Needel to talk about the transition from HS students on a FIRST team to engineers and mentors of a FIRST team. It made me reminisce a bit about meeting when we were all students and before Steve and Anne were married.

[thefro526]

I encountered the same problem earlier on this season.

I had a really hard time adjusting to the added responsibility and power of being a mentor. I felt strange giving kids I once worked alongside of directions to do things. Now I've gotten into my groove, so to say, and I learned what kind of mentor I need to be for my team. I found that the best and most comfortable way for me to mentor is as more of an Older Sibling.

[Captain Slacker]

On Team Paragon we gave the students who returned sometime in the four years after high school the role of "junior mentor". These mentors guide us at the site, but do not count as chaperones individually. They do, however, count in our rule that there must be two mentors in attendance when a student is under the care of the team. They also attend the mentor meetings and get to treated as the other mentors would.

[synth3tk]

Originally Posted by thefro526

I encountered the same problem earlier on this season.

I had a really hard time adjusting to the added responsibility and power of being a mentor. I felt strange giving kids I once worked alongside of directions to do things. Now I've gotten into my groove, so to say, and I learned what kind of mentor I need to be for my team. I found that the best and most comfortable way for me to mentor is as more of an Older Sibling.

That's the approach I'm taking, too. At least for my first year or two as a mentor. It feels weird, but the students don't seem to mind, so I'm fine with it.

[Chris Hibner]

Originally Posted by The Lucas

Yup, you are a mentor now. If it feels odd now it gets even weirder when the last student who "knew you as a student" graduates. Then you are old . Happened to me a couple years ago.

Dude, you don't know feeling old. When I started in FIRST (way back in 1997), I was a fresh college graduate (in 1996). I was only a few years older than the seniors back then and I could relate pretty well to the students.

Fast forward to this year when I had the realization that we have students on our team that weren't even born when I started mentoring in FIRST. Now THAT makes you feel old. Yuck.

As bad as that makes me feel, I can always take comfort in looking at my good buddy Ken Patton and saying, "how's it going, old man?"

[Wildcat]

welcome to the world of mentoring

Originally Posted by EricLeifermann

Being a mentor doesn't have an age requirement. As long as you are positively influencing someone you could be called a mentor and a role model.

^true, during build season i had to "student-mentor" some of the rookies on my team, was a good experience