OhMyGosh, the stress is killing me!!!

[skrussel]

You'd think that after 6 years of doing this, I wouldn't keep having sleepless nights and distracted days during these first few weeks. Makes me crazy. Nothing seems to go right, and so many kids bail out.

I would like to say how much I appreciate those kids who tough it out with us, who work so hard, and stay positive. YOU are why I do this.

But I'd especially like to say how grateful I am to the wonderful engineers who came in and got us back on track......John Vukovich - my hero! (Ford), Ronnie Ann Tront (Visteon), and Matt Rizzo, my once and former student driver, now engineer extraordinaire.
Thanks, you guys. I think I'll sleep well tonight.

Susan Krussell Team 1037
The SCREAM Team

[Adam Y.]

I wouldn't keep having sleepless nights and distracted days during these first few weeks. Makes me crazy

It makes me sick. I'm not kidding.

[Anarkissed]

*yawns wiping the sleep out of his eyes* praise is deserved by the students and engineers that put in all the time to get the team going.

[pauluffel]

I empathize with you about the praise needed for those who put together the teams. I"ve been struggling for the past several months to get my team going, and now I"m struggling to keep in going fast and not falling apart. Even though it seems more tiring and annoying to get people in line, it is alot more fulfilling because the results are really immediate in your people.
I love it, but it"s sucking me dry.

About being sick, just before regionals I fell sick for about two weeks, but I just kept struggling on so that iwouldn"t miss the competition.

[Gadget470]

I think most teams directly reflect their mentors. I've been on 2 teams, the first one had 4 different mentors through the 3 years I was with it and the team members always seemed to have as much stress on them and got as much sleep as the mentors did.

With this team, I think I'm getting hit the hardest (I drive 45min to and from build sessions), but the connection between the team and the mentors is still evident. The mentor's relationships with the members on both teams also seem to directly linked to the effort put in.

If the mentor doesn't care, the kids don't either. If the kids don't care, the mentor doesn't see a reason to keep it up. This is the rough spot for mentors. They need to always keep going strong to keep the kids going through those rough weeks.

I would like to thank mentor from 470, 247, and all of the other FIRST teams.. without you people there would not be us.

[Curtis Williams]

Last year we had a new mentor who worked with us Mon-Thurs 3:00p-5:15p. This year, after being at the last competition, he looses almost as much sleep as we do. Mon-Sat until 715p.

The sickness is hard to dodge. I have to keep myself on a strict caffeine and acetaminophen regiment. In Jacksonville, FL the temperature ranges from 20 to 85 degrees in january. Tylenol Cold+Sinus Non-Drowsy works well to combat this. Apply neosporin as soon as you cut off a finger with the bandsaw.

Keep track of your estimated time until burnout.

[Steve Team 311]

I live for these six weeks. Nothing gives me more excitement, enjoyment, and pure giddyness.

[srjjs]

If you're having trouble staying awake, we got some "energy drinks" today that have enough caffeine for 247 mL to be dangerous to children and pregnant women, and 4 cans is hazardous to a normal person.
For reference, a normal can of soda is 355 mL.

[Anarkissed]

i have to agree with living for these 6 weeks, during the off season me and my friends in robotics have random discussions on the topic of first ranging from crazy possibilities to what to do next year

FIRST i have to say is one of the best things to happen in my high school life

[meaubry]

Be diligent, and the reward will soon arrive. 6 weeks seems forever when in becomes 24 hour stress filled days, but it'll be over before you know it, and as sick as it is, you'll soon be wishing for MORE time.
Hang in there, everyone ! Remember to TAKE a little time for a sanity check and a deep breathe. As important as this is, we all need to keep things in perspective and balance. (My wife's words to help me realize when I'm going overboard)

[Alfred Thompson]

For some mentors the stress is 12 months not 6 weeks. I lost sleep during the summer worrying about getting sposership money, getting new engineers, makaing sure the finincial books for last season were closed and everyone was thanked. And on and on.
Last year was our first year back and we started planning in July with weekly meetings of a committee of mentors. The fall was involved in recruiting - kids, adults, money, etc. The 6 weeks of build was a bump on the road. Behind the "action" was making sure travel was worked out for a regional and as a late addition the Championship. After the season there was more work to be done to close out the year and get an early start on this year.
I had to actually step back from what I was doing. In large part this was because of work related commitments. Like many teachers I have a second job. But part of it was stress.
Hopefully I will be able to jump back in with both feet soon. If nothing else there have been other adults who stepped in to take over some of the things that cost me sleep last year.
But honestly I know that there are some teams with one adult mentor who does 90% of the things that no one sees but that need to be done. I don't know how they do it.
If you are a mentor dealing with lots of stress you need to get other people to take some of the work off your hands. OTherwise you will burn out and that does no one any good.

[BBFIRSTCHICK]

Stress is killing you....its killing me....my team just decided to go ahead and redesign the bot...so now we are going to rebuild the frame and everything!! Yahoo!!! so we have about 4 weeks......Note: I am jumping for joy

[chellyzee93]

I'm distracted all day because of FIRST although I also use FIRST as motivation to pay attention. I even dream about being at FIRST and going through the design process, building, or animations. It's like I never leave. The intellectual stimulation that FIRST provides is overwhelming. I'd like to thank all of the mentors who devote their time so that I can be part of the program. It doesn't matter how matter students want to be involved, without the mentors it wouldn't work. Their tolerance and patience is beyond this world. I hope they know how much their time means to us.