Not allowed to do anything on team

[marshall]

Originally Posted by Toatekua

I was the same. I got my parents to talk to the lead mentor, which helped a lot.

If you feel like you can't talk to one of the mentors directly then this is an option. Just ask your parent(s) to keep in mind that most mentors are volunteering their time and to be respectful. I would suggest talking to the mentors directly first if you feel that you can.

Also, if your team has guidelines or a handbook then it is a good idea to read it and have your parents read it as well.

I say this because just yesterday we had to inform a student that they were not eligible to attend a competition with us because they had not fulfilled their requirements. This lead to a long phone call with an understandably frustrated parent. I was able to talk with the parent about our policies and our handbook, which they hadn't seen, and this made a huge difference and helped to put the parent at ease and the student as well. I'm optimistic that the student will stick around next year and now has a better grasp of time management as well as expectations and communication.

Talk to your mentors. Mentors are people too and some of us are pretty ok.

[GreyingJay]

Originally Posted by Mordo2000

Why would making my own team with a bunch of other kids who feel the same way not be an option

Because it is an incredible amount of work. I speak as someone who has just done it - 2706 is a new community team spearheaded by four founding mentors including myself, and we recruited about a dozen other awesome mentors, and it is STILL an overwhelming amount of work for all of us.

I would invite you to ask an honest question. When you say "I am not allowed to do anything", are you really saying "I am not allowed to do the things I want to do" or "I am not allowed to do the things I perceive as important"? Are you perhaps being asked to do other things, things which you are dismissing as unimportant or uninteresting?

The best thing to do is talk openly and honestly with your team leadership. I know there have been times when students and mentors are in the same room and the students are thinking "I'm bored, I have nothing to do" and the mentors are thinking "how are we going to get all this done? I wish the students would step up more!" Talk to each other!

[Mechvet]

Originally Posted by Mordo2000

I have tried to rectify the current situation by going to the lead mentor and telling the other kids what is going on and this has lead me to being bullied at school by the kids on the team.

Bullying at any school is not acceptable. I strongly urge you to bring your concerns up to either a school counselor, or a principal. Someone with authority to rectify the situation needs to be involved at this point.

[GeeTwo]

I agree with the above - especially about the key points of escalating the bullying issue to higher authority and working with leaders to find out why you are not advancing/what you can do.

Based on OP, I'm guessing that you may have facilities outside of the team lifelines to support your experience in design and metalwork. If so, you may be able to use this to your advantage. Next design cycle (whether off-season or next build season), quietly take a design or prototype task for "homework". Pitch the idea/design as an example/prototype. Doing it this way, leaders will see that you have the ability to do these design or construction projects, even if they do not use your design. If you blow your horn but don't get too braggy about it, a team lead or two will probably request your help with something soon.

Should you find yourself a team leader in a year or two, give back. Make special efforts to learn people's abilities and utilize them to the benefit of your team and its members.

[Mordo2000]

Thanks everyone for trying to help me. I have already talked with the lead mentor and he sent me to go to the student lead because the mentors on my team are way to laid back. The student leader is horrible and only is the leader because she is head of the social group and has a bunch of friends. In the offseason before the start of build I built and programmed a swerve drive chassis by myself. And it still didn't effect what they thought of me. When I show up I do work very hard at trying to get jobs however I get assigned pointless jobs like 3D printing alliance gifts.

[jaunvie]

I'm afraid that if you really feel that all of the mentors are "corupt", I'm not sure you're going to find the advice you're looking for here. If you feel that the only reason they are not giving you what you want is because you're not one of the "in" kids, I'm sorry. Since I don't know for sure if it's true or just your point of view, I will try to go over both.
If it's true, that sucks and it shouldn't happen. .......but it does. I hate to say it, but that's life. You will find that it happens in "the real world" too. It's a hard life lesson to learn. You can try to go to someone with athority over the team. A principal, superintendent, or First maybe. It's a tough road, but if that's what's happening, you need to stand up for yourself and others the situation might be affecting.
If it's just how it "feels", talking to a mentor, parent, or coach can help alot more than you might think. You might be assuming things that are just not what you think. The advice already given is very good.
If you feel you've done both of these things and still nothing is happening. Keep trying. It can take along time to affect change, and it won't happen unless you keep trying.

On the bullying note, please see an athority figure. There is no excuse for people to treat each other without simple human respect. I hope you understand that you are useful and important to this world and no one can take that away from you unless you let them, but don't let a few creeps get away with being jerks. If they're bullying you, it stands to reason they're doing it to someone else too. Be a hero and tell someone, please.

I hope things get better for you and remember the skills you learn trying to deal worth something like this will be useful all your life.

[indieFan]

Mordo:
You imply at some point that there are other students that feel the same way as you.

Have you had a team meeting with the teacher (assuming there is one), mentors, parents, and students to discuss all of the current issues? Everyone needs to be on the same page, and sometimes a team meeting with everyone is the only way.

Talking to a person, such as the mentor, one-on-one doesn't always make an impact. When a group starts to say something isn't right and what they'd like to see change (make sure you have potential solutions), it can get the ball rolling.

Also, you have done design, you have done metal work, you have programmed a swerve drive. My question becomes, how have you presented these to the team? Has it been in a way that appears "pretentious" and off-putting? I've worked with some students that were very good at what they did, but did not come across as team players or had an attitude of being better than others. You may need to ask others how they perceived you and be open to their responses.

indieFan

P.S.-
Other times, talking to a person one-on-one is the only way because it prevents them from feeling like they are being ganged up on.

[Europa]

I think you should try talking one on one with the student leadership. Maybe they don't know how you feel about the situation. I know from personal experience that being a student leader for an FRC team is a lot of work. Maybe the leadership doesn't understand what is going on. I don't know the situation but I'm sure they only want to make the team better. Talking to them about your experience will help them improve the team for everyone.

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by Mordo2000

Thanks everyone for trying to help me. I have already talked with the lead mentor and he sent me to go to the student lead because the mentors on my team are way to laid back. The student leader is horrible and only is the leader because she is head of the social group and has a bunch of friends. In the offseason before the start of build I built and programmed a swerve drive chassis by myself. And it still didn't effect what they thought of me. When I show up I do work very hard at trying to get jobs however I get assigned pointless jobs like 3D printing alliance gifts.

I just wanted to comment on this part... I know my team has no pointless jobs. We don't do busy work - everything we do helps the team improve. I know there are jobs that people like less than others, but that doesn't make them any less important. Making alliance gifts can help your team with outreach within the FIRST community, improve perception of your team at competition, and help improve your teamwork with other teams - all of which can help you with on-field performance and awards.

[philso]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

I just wanted to comment on this part... I know my team has no pointless jobs. We don't do busy work - everything we do helps the team improve. I know there are jobs that people like less than others, but that doesn't make them any less important. Making alliance gifts can help your team with outreach within the FIRST community, improve perception of your team at competition, and help improve your teamwork with other teams - all of which can help you with on-field performance and awards.

To the OP

Is the reason that you are not given a more prominent role because there are other team members who are more competent than you?

Are other team members being given the roles you want because you are relatively new on the team and team members who have "paid their dues" are being given the more prominent roles? As a mentor, I only assign the more difficult tasks to team members who have demonstrated competence and a responsible attitude.