Attending a big university such as Virginia Tech opens doors of opportunity for all of us. We get to pick from countless majors, extracurricular activities, campus events and much more.
The possibilities are endless. On the other hand, being among so many people forces us to give up a lot of personal attention to which we may have become accustomed. There are certain things, however, we should never have to sacrifice. One of those things is common decency.
As an example, one of my friends recently went to Schiffert Health Center to get a pregnancy test. After giving a urine sample, she sat nervously in the waiting area until a woman led her into a room to deliver the results. She told my friend that she was indeed pregnant, gave her a sheet of paper with pertinent information and told her she'd make a copy of the results so she could inform "whoever did this" to her. She told her good luck, and left the room.
I can't begin to list how many things are wrong with this scenario. First of all, my friend was obviously scared and overwhelmed in a moment that is arguably the hardest she's ever had to face.
Would it be too much to ask for this woman to reach out her hand and attempt to comfort her? How much more time would it take out of her day to show an ounce of empathy?
Second, if the woman would've glanced at my friend's records, she would've seen that the only person she's ever had sex with is her current boyfriend of more than two years. Therefore, it should've been completely obvious who impregnated her, and the condescending remark could've gone without.
This kind of impersonal treatment is unacceptable. I understand that pregnancy is something college health officials deal with on a regular basis, and that over time they aren't fazed by certain aspects of their job. They are no longer surprised by positive pregnancy test results, and they go to bed at night after delivering such news just as easily as everyone else does.
But if that's what your job entails, you should never forget that you're part of the scariest moment of someone else's life. And it's important to act accordingly.
There's no need to hug every patient or shed a tear each time you pass on unwanted news. But a kind or reassuring word can never hurt, and will be appreciated and remembered in a time of such uncertainty.
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Face palm, what else is there to say? http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/img/facepalm.jpeg
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If any young lady finds herself pregnant, I urge her to contact the Caring Pregnancy Center in Christiansburg, for a kind ear and a true evaluation of alternatives. http://www.caringpregnancycenter.net/choices.aspx
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I think this has less to do with the size of the university community and more to do with the specific worker. Unless there was a line of people behind your friend, or the worker is otherwise overextended and unable to take the time for compassion, then it sounds to me like she might just lack a congenial manner, which would not be any different if she were at a small school.
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Teachers and academic professionals need to step it up!
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Things have not changed I guess since I graduated in 1994. But this is a health system in similar relation to a government-run system. Get used to it.
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I am a prof here at VT. I teach two classes and three labs. I advise over 40 students. I also am the research director of two grad students. "Stepping it up" needs to be done, but not by the teachers. I see only a few advisees each semester. I send email for students to come, but they don't. The advising problem here at VT is a two-way street.
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