FAHA: The trouble of a college mentor

[Ken Leung]

Hello Everyone,

Sorry I've been neglecting this part of the forum for this season. I've had little time to think about FIRST things and forgot to check up on the FIRST-a-holic anonymous mail box. I will bring up this issue with the rest of the moderators very soon, and hopefully find someone(s) who can take care of this corner from now on. Thank you for your patience. Now, onward with a letter I just received recently:

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I was the team leader on a team that was a first year college team this year. To say the least, things went a little tough. I am not an engineering major and don’t have very much knowledge of it, however, I don’t feel that engineering knowledge is necessary to run a team, if your other mentors are doing their jobs. My main question however, is a bit deeper than that.

I am having a serious problem trying to take care of business on my team. My mentors have little to no respect for me and don’t take me seriously when it comes to making decisions. In the middle of a mentor meeting, for instance, not only did one of my mentors have a cell phone ring and answer it, but the phone was answered without leaving the room with no attempt to hide the conversation. I am ignored and disrespected and even that I can deal with, but it’s getting to the point where that hinders the progress that our group can make. I try to suggest fundraisers, outings, etc. try to ask for help with sponsorship or anything else and I end up being ignored. Me trying to do what most teams have 5 or more people doing is putting our team at a huge disadvantage and, as I see it, a point where we may be falling apart.

So I guess that my biggest question is that I feel like there are two options: me resigning my position and allowing someone who is respected and who the others will be willing to work under to take my place, or staying here and trying to continue to do things myself. Either way, I am seeing the team not working. Right now, I feel like if I step down, that none of the others would step up. All of them have said at some point that they are not interested in running the team and I am afraid that if I don’t do it that no one else will. (ending the team) Staying here I feel would also cause an issue because I don’t think that I can effectively run this team anymore.

I would appreciate anyone giving me advice as to which option I should choose.
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It is very tough to be a team mentor, especially when you've just recently graduated from high school and still only a teenager yourself. Not only do you have to face a new environment of a new school, but you also have to meet new people and work with them to build a new team, a task that challenges even the greatest mentors in this program. Many of you have already or are going to face similar situations, so please share your advice/thoughts and tell us what this fellow FIRST-a-holic can do.


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FIRST-a-holic Anonymous mailbox is a place to share your concern and frustration about your FIRST experience anonymously. It is the perfect place if you just want someone to listen, or ask for advice when you don’t know what to do. Submit your letters today at the FIRST-a-holic anonymous mailbox forum: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/f...splay.php?f=124
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