Conflict with Mentor

[Kimmeh]

The mentor is our lead mentor, which is where part of the problem is. Due to work, he has made very few meetings which I don't hold against him, as work does come first. However, this has made it very hard for him to lead the team as we have gone up to two weeks without hearing from him.

A different mentor (teacher/coach) worked with the awards team throughout the year, both before and during build season. He is also the "middle-man" between students and mentors. He was the first person I went to, to have this resolved. While I don't remember specifics of the conversation, I remember feeling like the issue was dismissed with a comment along the lines of "these things happen." Granted, they do, and I would be less frustrated if it was handled differently.

I agree that I'm not entitled to present, and I should have worded that differently. However, it is highly frustrating, and I would like an explanation. The change was made last minute, without any discussion with the rest of the team. None of the mentors even knew until after the presentation. Also, I wasn't told I wouldn't be presenting by the mentor, which is where a large part of my frustration comes from. I was in the pits of the rookie team we mentor, when I received a text from one of the presenters saying responding that she couldn't come help me as she was about to go present. In other words, I was "told" I wasn't presenting, by not being told at all.

It's been hard for our team to get a general consensus on anything like a handbook, which is something I'd love to have. We're a "young" team - out of 14 students, we have 1 sophomore, and 3 seniors, the rest of the team are either freshmen or 8th graders, with 3 of them younger than that. In addition, for over half of them, this is their rookie year. Now, more than ever, I'm going to push for the team to commit to this so that something like this cannot happen again.

I appreciate everyone's input, and I am trying to approach this as tactfully and professionally as possible. I wanted to avoid an impulsive discussion where I might say things that are impulsive or inappropriate and would cause problems rather than resolve them, hence waiting.

Thank you.

And for those wondering, I chose to post it here over FAHA because here, I am more accountable to what is being said, and I won't be tempted to say things that perhaps shouldn't be said.