I’ve Worked In Higher Education For 2 Years And Here’s What I’ve Learned
I want you to go back to a time before you went to college (for those who went to college). It’s a time that had people who were unfortunate enough to have to ride a school bus that was cramped, where only the rich kids could wake up at the last minute before school started. A time most of us dread in some shape or form either cuz bullying or fear of being harassed because our bodies were changing so quickly. Some of you might have guessed it this horrible 4 year experience is high school. Now you maybe wondering why and what this has to do with college but everything I said here can be addressed and ties into Higher Education in America.
High School Never Ends
Now I’m not talking about the song from Bowling for Soup but the fact it really doesn’t end. College both as a student and a worker was eerily similar to high school. There were board members that never knew what they were doing and would always bicker amongst themselves or make the dumbest decisions respectfully. A decision my college and former employers did was them trying to downsize the psychological services at the campus(es). They really failed to see why mental health is important. Now outside of the stress of going to school, there’s also feelings of jealousy that older adults have because now people in high school and the more traditional college student age just fucking go do their shit. I’m not even 25 but because I didn’t go straight away I know how they feel. I had people from age 16–22 give me shit for not going right away. Then there’s also life that happens to people, some have experienced traumatic events in life. Another even more questionable decision that baffles me to this day is when they tried to close done the tutoring centers. I remember my boss at the time telling me that and truthfully I snickered like I was Mr. Burns from the Simpsons. I thought she was joking or it was just one of those work place rumors, that wasn’t the case. I was actually shocked when her boss came down a little later and confirmed that they were trying to get rid of the center. The reason was because no-one used it. I know my campus was the smallest of the 3 but the other 2 were always busy, they never had time to train or answer the phone. It was like that for us at my campus for mid-terms and finals with some special exceptions like calculus and the higher math and sciences.
People mixing business and pleasure.
So we all know that one pair of teachers that are dating or did in high school. Unfortunately that’s the case too in Higher Education. I know people that found love and successfully married and have a happy life. That being said most won’t find that and those are not happy stories. I worked with someone who had the first ever rejection and she lashed out for months. It was all because he didn’t like her like that nothing egregious or bad she was just a vain and big-headed young woman. Then there was the coworker who constantly looked like a disheveled goblin king. He shockingly somehow managed to sleep his way through all three campuses. One of the things I was told to look out for and report was any funny business when I started. I remember it like a cartoon. My boss told me to tell her and be careful about reporting it (meaning she knew and so did others) and when I walk out the room what do I see? The disheveled goblin king getting a foot massage from a coworker. Both his nasty ass pale feet were being massaged and lotioned up. I remember the word that came to my mind at the sight of audacity.
“BRUH” a simple yet eloquent word that captivates so much emotion and wide range of situations.
I wasn’t even the only person in computer lab when I saw this. The IT guys saw it too and pointed out this wasn’t the first time they had done something like this. Then the coworkers went just got up and left without saying a word. I saw them because of where I was sitting in the center(the center is at the very back of the main building in my campus and first floor.) and just speed off together. There was another time when I was walking to the bookstore to get snacks and saw the girl bopping her head up and down before they even left the damn lot. Then this Goblin King had the gall to cry about not getting promoted. He never did his job and just slept his way through the entire campus. The man was so upset he mentioned saying he was going to sleep with my boss’s daughter which was gross and he got fired.
Miscommunication
So miscommunication isn’t a new or that big of a problem but for my job it was. There was miscommunication and fights about what’s okay and when from the higher ups. This called internal power struggles which led to confusion. Some of the tutors that used to work there thought they were above the front desk and could talk to them any kind of way. Then there was front desk who thought they were above everything and would fight with others and talk about NSFW stuff but I’ll focus on that a little later. Then there professors that would send there students expecting us too help after doing the bare minimum in their classes.
Students
The last thing that was an eye-opener was the students. Some of them cared a bit too much showing up everyday and freaking out about every little detail in they’re assignment. I’ve seen some students snap at the tutors saying they’re wrong and the student is right. Sweetie if you’re right why the hell are you asking for help. Then on the other end there were students that legit didn’t care. I remember a coworker telling me that she had a student ask for help knowing damn well he never went to class at all that semester. This as I found out it was a very common occurrence there. There was a student trying to bribe me for help. They didn’t want a session or any help they just needed proof of going. They offered me cash, food and drinks. I fucking laughed because I couldn’t believe it. Then there were students that took advantage of the old policies and just booking appointments and back to back so they could have an easy A. I remember when we changed this policy and we hoped it make it better but it didn’t. Students much to everyone’s surprise still found ways and I was impressed they found ways so quickly. That being said I remember before the pandemic a coworker and I were going from class to class telling people about the centers and it was nice. We answered questions the professors and students asked and left. Then I remember a student asking me to help him get set up, then he asked questions about writing etc I answered and then he tried to get me to write his autobiography essay for him.
HOW TF AM I SUPPOSED TO WRITE THAT?
It’s his life and he couldn’t even talk about his hobbies, he didn’t even know he had hobbies. If it was a few suggestions then that would be different, but no he wanted me to format, edit, write details.
Then there’s at home life that students have to deal with. I’ve gone into my life so I’ll just link that here.
TRIGGER WARNING
There’s some people who I know have dyslexia or some other form of a “learning disability” and may not receive help at home. I know in some cases some parents told their child they didn’t want them and they just emotionally neglected the child. In some cases the parents refused to understand it and would beat their kids unless they made good grades. In the black community “learning disability” or not this was the case for and still is for some all over. It’s not a learning disability in most cases it just how they perceive information is different than others. I’ve had some of my Asian friends complain about how strict and unhealthy their parents are. Some of them never even had a choice in what career they want. On the darker end of trauma and responses I’ve known people who have lost someone close them or had some kind of experience with money issues at a very young age that’s made them choice their path so vigorously and that’s okay but those stressors and experiences have a way of dictating how they respond to school.
Primary Education
I blame a lot of these issues with primary education. This system hasn’t really challenged us or pushed in a healthy way. There are things we know how to do and can do better than our parents ever could like thinking critically with things, but somethings are still the same. Something that’s the same is the importance of going to college. I was talking to a friend overseas and what she studied in England. She was telling me how much cheaper university and college is especially compared to America, even say when she reads or hears about it gives her anxiety. She said she’s still broke though. She does have a point even college professors (that don’t have they’re heads up their asses will agree), that the text books and classes are absurdly expensive for no reason. Yes inflation has caused this too worldwide but America’s education system is too expensive for literally no reason. I know some of this is how college has been historically in the past, it was designed for the rich even back in ancient Egyptian times but it should change for the better as times change. However I believe a major issue with primary education and higher education is teachers. I’ve seen and experienced first hand how the higher ups in high school treat students some berate them and disrespect them. I remember I got called up to the office at my new high school and had to file something and saw one of the principals just yelling at someone in their face as soon as they walked in. I know from my own abuse this didn’t help students. It’s not any better in higher education. There are some professors who are so mighty and arrogant they think they know everything. Another thing they do is when they criticize primary education for not doing anything correctly. This is why students hate the education system. It either feels like a scam or nothing we do is correct and gives us anxiety and other mental health issues and stressors. It doesn’t make any sense to me.
Change
However despite these reasons I believe higher and primary education will change. They’ve already started changing things because of the pandemic that isn’t ending. Some of the fellow students and teachers are starting to see how actually bad some people have it. It’s causing them to become more empathetic. I’ve also seen teachers changing things from how the previous generations. Teachers have pulled student aside and rather than berate them ask how is everything at home, was it a rough night and that’s why they fell asleep in class. I saw one video where that was the case and the teacher let the student nap in a private area for ten minutes. It drew a tear from me and gave me hope for the future.
