March 2006, Issue #47
Current Event
A column by Celeste Baine, Director Engineering Education Service Center
HAVE YOU THANKED YOUR MENTOR TODAY?
Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the Texas State MATHCOUNTS Championship. In case you are not familiar with MATHCOUNTS, it's a contest where middle school kids compete to answer math questions. The state's best and brightest Mathletes attended the Texas competition and competed in individual sprints as well as a team competition. Scores were tallied while the students relaxed and dined on delicious sandwiches. Then, the top 10 students were singled out, sat on the stage and raced to answer questions designed to stump even the most seasoned engineers. Brilliant, intense and quick-witted, these students amazed us. I felt tears in my eyes to see the joy and anxiety in their victories or the sadness and disappointment in their losses. Parents documented every win and loss with the click of a camera as the finalists' teammates cheered them on. It was an event to remember for all involved. Win or lose, these kids were all winners in my eyes. Every one of them will be able to write their own ticket to a satisfying career. Just being exposed to this level of competition can make a huge impact on the aspirations of every child.
Above all, it is important to mention (or maybe scream) that MATHCOUNTS, TEAMS, NEDC, and all other pre-engineering competitions would not be possible without the coaches that volunteered their time and energy to motivate these students to perform at their highest level. Coaches are such an important and often overlooked element to making a competition thrive. Not only do they volunteer their time, they also exude a tremendous amount of energy and encouragement. If the team does well, they give up their weekend (or several) to get their team ready and organize a trip to the championship and beyond. It is no small feat, and these people can not be thanked enough. Where would the kids be without this type of champion? My hat is off to all the coaches, volunteers, and supporters that make a day like today live on in the hearts of all the students that attended.
So, take a moment today and thank your mentor. You will not regret the good it will do.
