Met with a student and his mother yesterday for an intake evaluation. Students with disabilities at SMC first visit with specialized counselors, if an accommodation may be required of a technical nature, the students are sent to the High Tech Training Center. I’m a full-time faculty member assigned to help students. When a student is accompanied by a parent, it’s often due to communication issues. In this meeting it was obvious the student felt forced to be there and was disrespectful to his mother.
I tried to engage with the student but couldn’t even establish eye contact. A depressed young man/child with a supportive and disrespected mother.
I was able to accommodate the student with software to hear his books and due to economic issues, loaned the student a surface pro. The only time the student came close to me was to sign the loan contract.
I was left feeling helpless…
Depression, autism, mental illness…part of life that at least I’ve evolved enough to engage and not look away. But, engagement and a feeling of helplessness often go hand in hand.
I hope to blog soon describing a similar scenario…where I feel helpful.
Tom, I understand that feeling after some interactions with our students. And you and I both know that the help and support you gave that student may not be recognized or appreciated in that moment…and yet, it’s still worthwhile and important. You changed someone’s educational experience and probably life for the better that day, whether or not he realized it now or ever. Always hopeful. 🙂