Lessons from Mentors

[Siri]

Thanks for your answers thus far, everyone!

Originally Posted by Chris is me

I've had some of the best mentors in the world teach me lessons I'm still realizing today. I have trouble coming up with a concrete list of values and ideas taught to me, but rarely has a day gone by when I don't catch myself using something one of them taught me. Perhaps the best mentoring is done via the head fake, something that can't truly be appreciated on the spot.

This a really good point, Chris. I've found it to be a daily thing for me as well, whether it be engineering, management, or life in general. I said in the other thread that they just 'stand up an be a great project manager/engineer'. I think what I meant was they stand up as a great adult who also happens to be a great manager/engineer. It's actually the former that makes the largest impact.

Joe (rocketperson): I agree with you on everything except the "I was dead wrong" part. I think FIRST is meant for us already-inspired; they expect us to teach. I started that as a HS student as well (now they can't get rid of me.) Most veterans I know do this to varying levels, and it doesn't seem like just fluke of the system. Mentors build mentors.

[Joe G.]

Joe (rocketperson): I agree with you on everything except the "I was dead wrong" part.

To clarify my point, I love FIRST, everything it stands for, and it will be a part of my life in some level every year in the foreseeable future. And I completely agree that us "already inspired" have a HUGE role to fill in FIRST. I just wanted to make the point that I used to feel differently

I interpreted "FIRST being made for me," back in 9th grade as meaning "Awesome, a place where I can spend all day playing with robots!" My 9th grade self would have made a very, very poor mentor. Nowadays, I see things quite differently, and they can't stop me from coming back either. I just come back for much more than a chance to play with robots these days.

EDIT: An excellent post that's had a lot of influence on me, that essentially sums up what I was trying to convey: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...2&postcount=75