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Re: Not allowed to do anything on team
This sounds like a sticky subject. Let me know if you have heard this before, but most mentors are trying to do the best for their students and their team. If you are feeling like you are being passed over there is probably a reason for it. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to figure out why, and how to improve. FIRST is largely about personal growth and taking the initiative to improve your standing in the team is a big part of that.
Mentors are human; what some students feel are unfair treatment is really just a side effect of build season pressure. It takes extra work to reach out to students who are quiet; on some tasks the mentors don't have time to walk a new student through it. A bias typically shows towards students who participate more aggressively during the early part of the season. It happens, but you have the power to fix that.
My advice to you is talk to a mentor about what is bothering you. Explain your hopes and your concerns, but leave your ego at the door. The average mentor has your best interests in mind, but if you become accusatory or put down other students most mentors will find it harder to listen to you. In all likelihood they will have some useful advice for you.
I think you will find that if you work at this faithfully your situation will improve dramatically. It may not be as fast as you like, but you have three more years after this one. I've found that patience and perseverance are the cornerstones of overwhelming success.
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