As of this moment, I have been in the same position for slightly more than 9 years. In that time, I have seen 3 full-time Program Coordinators (my "companion" position in the office) and 18 co-op students (mostly University, one College and a couple of high school) rotate in, and back out, of the office.
This could indicate several things: 1) that I'm loyal and not given to floating in and out of things, 2) that I'm in a rut that I can't get out of. Mostly, it means that every 4 months I have to retrain the only other person in my office. And by the time most of them are actually useful as support in the position, they leave. And the process starts all over again. The few who have stuck around, stay long enough for me to get into a comfortable synchronicity with them before they go and leave me to the pattern again.
I'm tired. And I dread going to work. And I think what I said above is the main reason for both things. I'm in a constant state of uncomfortableness with the newest additions and they're never around long enough to get out of it. I've got no one I can rely on, to know that if I'm off one day, they'll pick up the slack. I have no peer. It's lonely. And frustrating, because I'm also mostly surrounded by people who only kind of get it. It's not that I physically have too much to do, though I can't say that I don't hate having to do parts of the Program Coordinator job as well as my own, but it's mentalling taxing having to adjust to and remember what these new people do and don't know all the time. Trying not to expect too much at the beginning, or expect too little later on. I don't know how to keep straight where they are at any given moment in time.
And I want them to ask questions when they don't know something, but I often feel as if I'm always answering the same questions. It's not usually their fault; I just can't remember who has asked what, or when.
Like I said, I'm tired. Part of me is proud that I've managed to weather all the crap that's been ongoing in the job for the past 9 years. Another part of me is screaming "Why won't someone just help me get out?!" But it's all mental, right? Take a few deep breaths. Remember that it's not the co-ops fault that they're here and they're learning, and try not to snap their heads off. Eventually I will get my due.
Or maybe this is it.
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