I just don’t get it. Some things you think will end up well, others you think will not work out. Yet most times, the exact opposite happens.
Today was the de facto last day of the TEYC program I’ve been teaching. The students had to teach in a real daycare to gain experience as part of their practicum. I anticipated disaster, mainly because I knew the students and was kind of expecting them to be late or to mess up in some way.
The reason was we had gone to that daycare two weeks ago so the students could do an observation report, which was key to understanding children behaviour, etc. I’d instructed them to be on time, went over the rules, and so on. Yet on observation day, they arrived late (they chose to get there collectively, as a group), some forgot to bring their evaluation handouts, or didn’t follow the rules I’d laid out.
Thus, today, I expected them to show up late or screw up in some way or fashion. However, they surprised me by arriving on time and ready to go. The practicums were great.
On the other hand, I was informed on Wednesday that I would be taken out of this TEYC program (I was there for just one semester, and was just getting used to it) and re-inserted back into the Business program, where I’d spent my time the last several years. The reason was the student numbers were up in Business, and they preferred me with my experience to take over again.
So, that meant the school wanted to hire a new TEYC teacher. I immediately contacted an ex co-worker from another company, because I knew she’d been laid off five months ago and was STILL looking for work. She’d expressed interest before in working at the school but was “sick” the last time she was supposed to come in for an interview.
Therefore, I thought I had clinched the deal. After all, I know her and could get her in easily (networking is important in jobs, as you know). I’d just finished teaching the TEYC course, had revamped the course, and was able to show her the ropes, get her accustomed to the program.
Now, on Wednesday, I told the ex co-worker about the position and let her know the school would be hiring for someone to start on Monday. She seemed interested but wanted to let me know her decision the following day (Thursday).
I figured it was a done deal. If she said yes, I’d let my superiors know, and she’d come in and go through some orientation, and be ready to go.
Of course, in the meantime, resumes were flooding in from many job-seekers too. I did NOT hear from this ex co-worker until CLOSE TO 4 p.m. on Thursday, and she was STILL undecided!!!!!
I mean, seriously, why did I bother to help her out? Knowing that she needed a job, knowing that this was urgent (I told her the person that was hired would be starting on Monday), knowing that I was waiting for an answer, she simply chose to not contact me back until after work on Thursday!
That was just plain inconsiderate… Once again, I have to remind myself not to be so nice to people. This would be the second time that she’d pulled this off, counting the time she was “sick” and didn’t come to the first interview.
Urgh!
I guess I should stop worrying about other people’s welfare (she’d been laid off since the beginning of the year and still hasn’t found anything) and just focus on my own well-being instead.
That would give me less stress for sure.
And oh yeah, there’s more to this story, in regards to the school and what I’ll be teaching. But we’ll save that for later.