.... the responsibility, the weight of your decisions on others. Today I'm meeting various students to review progress. Normally they'd all be in the UK but obviously this year is not normal. Most are studying remotely from home, across the globe. In the meetings today so far (since 08:30), I've spoken to:
A lad from Armenia who is in the warzone on the border with Azerbaijan
A lad of 16 in Saudi who has missed loads of things but turns out he's been the make guardian for the past year because his father has been stranded abroad. He's responsible for his mother and sisters (!)
A lad who has been caring for his Great Grandmother because other family members had Covid. She died a week ago.
A lad who is going stir crazy in his little student flat in this country and who needs intervention.
And I'm dealing daily with our students (and former students) in Myanmar who fear being shot in the street, have the internet and electricity cut off randomly daily and who are getting to the ends of their tethers.
I have meetings till about 18:00 so plenty more to come. I feel so helpless. We obviously normally deal with welfare issues but usually we can provide some sort of practical, active help. Urgh. |
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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
The fact that you are able to relate to each person as an individual and see their stories as theirs is help. It's when we become immune to feeling any sympathy (let alone empathy) and start homogenising that your individual students will feel you are not offering any welfare support.
Remember to take care of yourself.
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On a smaller scale I'm dealing with this currently. The way to handle it is to do your best to help abs and realise that you can do no more. Your responsibility extends as far as your ability to help and their willingness to accept it |
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