As a grad student, I’m used to dealing with all sorts of mistreatment and exploitation. It comes as part of the territory and you learn to put up with a lot pretty quickly. I’ve developed a thick skin and a high tolerance for b.s., but I was so not prepared for what transpired today. It all happened via e-mail (ahhh, technology), and I’ve copied and pasted below for your amusement. (Names and identifying information have been redacted to protect the insane.)
E-mail 1 [some context: this student showed up late and dressed like a skank]:
Because you were not present at orientation a few weeks ago, I want to make sure that we are clear on some points in order to make the mentoring experience better for all involved. As you may remember from last year, we are expected to serve as positive role models for the children at [school], and this expectation includes the way in which we dress. Please note that short shorts or skirts, tight clothing, or anything else that could be considered revealing is not appropriate attire for when you mentor.
Additionally, I need to confirm whether you are actually able to participate this semester. You were absent from orientation and showed up quite late last week, and I would like to know if this was a fluke occurrence or if your schedule has become too busy for you to fully commit to this program. I realize that all of us have very busy and hectic schedules, particularly this time of year, but tardiness to that extent is unacceptable. Many of my mentors show up as early as 2:30, and it is imperative that we begin right at 3:00. If you are unable to show up at or before 3:00 on a regular basis, I strongly urge you to mentor another semester when your schedule is more manageable.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. We can talk on Wednesday before 3:00 if you would like to discuss this matter further.
Nice, right? OK, e-mail 2, from psycho hosebeast [bolded for the lolz]:
Well there must be some kind of mistake because I was there last week EARLY. And no one knew where to send me so I was just walking around the place trying to find where to go. Then I was told since I am volunteering and not doing a class that I only need to come there at 4-5 every week since they just had me sit around doing absolutely nothing from 3-4. So you guys are obviously very unorganized and need to get your facts together. I find it extremely rude that you are acting like I don’t care about this organization. And I also told the person in charge [um, you mean me?] that I have a class until until 2:50 on Wednesdays and that I might be a little late and [other GTA] said that was not another problem. I’m not going to participate in this program if you are going to treat me so disrespectfully. You need to get organized or get another volunteer–and that would be really fun to try to explain to my mentee that he mentor isn’t coming back because of how terrible the organization has treated her. I’ve never talked to such a rude individual. I work with many mentoring programs and churches here and I have NEVER been told that I wasn’t committed to something. You need to talk to [other GTA] and see how wrong you are.
I needed a crane to lift my damn jaw off the floor after reading this. I consulted with my supervisor, who essentially sent this person a short e-mail saying that she was no longer needed as a volunteer. This person’s response?
“That’s fine I hope you guys enjoy talking to [her mentee] about this. And I did ask numerous people in the office where to go. And that’s really interesting that [other GTA] said that to you because said something completely different about you to me.”
Our future, folks! I’m just thankful I no longer have to deal with this person. All of my other students are nice, sane people, so this just came out of nowhere. At first I was kind of pissed, but my anger quickly turned to overwhelming amusement. Never a dull moment for Freckles!
