[JGecko146]

As a mentor (I was also a student on a team many years ago), I will agree that our job is very difficult and we sometimes have to make the unpopular decisions. However, I personally favor commitment to the team, dedication to the program and a willingness to learn above almost everything else. I understand your frustration in having someone chosen to present who seems to have (I don’t know the situation) put in far less effort than you. I feel that you have to earn positions on the team, i.e. presenter, driver, human player, captain, etc. You do this through hard work and dedication.

I would suggest the following. Speak to another mentor on the team, someone you feel comfortable with. Leave your ego at the door and don’t use words like entitled. Instead talk about how it made you feel (I know, insert corny psychiatrist jokes here) and how can all of you work on the team to ensure future success. I really like team handbooks. Having everything in black and white makes things a lot easier. I do have to caution you that just because you did not see this other person much doesn’t mean they didn’t help the team. We had two students last who did the whole animation on their own and we didn’t see them until the end.

Lastly, I know this was a hard blow. But please don’t let this one negative experience cloud your whole FIRST experience. In any team environment there may be problems or even hurt feelings. When you look back in a year or two, don’t focus on this moment but rather the awesome experience of being on a FIRST team and your happy memories of it.

Best of luck,
JGecko146