<p>I’m a sophomore in high school and on the Mock Trial team. Last year, as a freshman, I won our team’s attorney award (awarded by unbiased judges)over juniors, a senior, and two sophomores. This year, a senior who I will call B and I have been appointed team captains. Basically, we will be on both sides of the case instead of just one side (Prosecution/Defense) It is a real honor for my counselor/mock trial couch to ask this of us and I’m touched. It’ll be a lot of work but I’m looking forward to the challenge. That leaves only two other lawyers spots open, one on the prosecution and one on the defense. three girls auditioned for the defense one, and the other senior on the team M will be on prosecution. Before I continue I will admit I am not always the kindest person. I use a lot of sarcasm, and I can be mean if I have to, but I always try to be pleasant and likeable. Anyway, back on topic. M feels like she is the best lawyer on the team and has seniority since she has been doing it for four years. Keep in mind, this is the first time our team has had cocaptains/double ups. I’ve been nothing but kind and nice to M. We aren’t friends, but we are teammates and I would like us to be amicable. Today, I found out that she told another teammate that I was a “big B**ch” and she “didn’t care who knew but she hated me and wished I wasn’t on the team”. How do I take care of this? I have thick skin, but this really bothers me since we are teammates and I have done nothing to her. What should I do? Do I talk to the couches, or just crush her with kindness and win her over?Both? I don’t mind being hated,if it’s deserved. But this is not deserved. I don’t want to resign, because I work my butt off for everything I get. I’m sorry that the coaches think I am better than her, but I have better presentation because of my theater background. I can’t help that. In the end, the team with the better overall presentation will when. Any advice you can offer would be helpful. I’ve talked to my parents and friends about this, but I would like an outside opinion.</p>
<p>You mean two attorney spots on both sides right? </p>
<p>Anyway, you might want to confront her about it in a calm manner. Competition isn’t far away, and you don’t want something like this holding back the team.</p>
<p>Yes, like, B and I will be on Defense with S and B and I will be on Prosecution with M.</p>
<p>Thank you.I’m hoping I can talk to her at Tuesday’s practice.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t confront her. If I were you I would just try to forget about it and be nice to everyone. If she starts to actually be mean to you, then nicely ask if you’ve done something wrong. If it doesn’t improve then I would get the coaches involved, because at that point she would be harassing you and just being immature.</p>
<p>By “actually being mean” I mean being mean to your face, not that what she’s already done isn’t mean, because it was.</p>
<p>I understand what you mean. I don’t want to be her friend necessarily because I feel she had a bad attitude, but I want us to be amicable. Thank you. I’ll probably wait a few practices and see if she calms down, or if it progresses and continue to be nice to her.</p>
<p>Yeah I get what you mean. I just think in this situation, I bringing it up won’t fix anything. It’ll probably just highlight the problem and she’ll get a bunch of people to gang up on you or whatever. I really dislike people like her I’m sorry you have to deal with that. That’s so annoying.</p>
<p>I agree with kata. Confront her about it kindly, either through text or in person. Simple kindness can potentially fix the problem. But even if she lashes out at you, what more harm can be done? She already did the damage with her comments and leaving them unaddressed will only exacerbate the situation.</p>
<p>If you bring them up you’re just going to make the situation worse. It’s going to call attention to the fact that she doesn’t like you, and of people are already resentful of the fact that you’re a sophomore captain, the last thing you need is more drama. If she doesn’t mention it again then I see no good reason to make a big deal out of it. You can always say something later if it gets worse, but you can’t erase what you have already said.</p>