Why did my mentor (anti-mentor) hurt me? I trusted him, I looked up to him, but he kicked down at me. It felt like he was trying to get me to quit, like over half the team did. But I couldn’t quit. I had too much riding on this job. I wondered why he humiliated me with sarcastic comments, why he discredited me during meetings, and why he talked down to me.
(Note from future self: maybe he’s stressed out too. Maybe that’s what this place does to you.)
I promised myself that if I ever moved up in the org, I would never treat the new engineers that way.
So I worked harder. Stayed later. Until one night, I didn’t go home at all.