system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Have you ever had a really terrible research experience?

I made a new reddit account to ask a question similar to my current situation. I am a second year undergrad and am finishing up my first research experience. My mentor was awful. He was gone for most of the summer, dodged questions. Right off the bat there was a lot of miscommunication. Combined with my anxiety and also poor (but growing) communication, things turmoiled into chaos. I am meeting with him next week to hopefully form some closure and leave off on a better note. 

Everyone I talk to seems to be having great research experiences, but the grass is always greener on the other side. Have you ever had a terrible research experience? What was it? Did it leave a defined mark that affected your future, or did it become a blip of the past?

I am in the heat of the aftermath now. My future "feels" hopeless, though I know things will get better, but it would be some motivation to hear others with similar experiences.
gpt
I've had research experiences which ended with the cops citing the pi for breaking the law and the pi making the undergrads cry.

... So yeah, bad experiences exist. The most important thing is that you can learn from them. In your situation, maybe you've learned to advocate for closer supervision, or more one on one support. Or maybe you've learned to be more independent, or take failure in stride.