Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Today was one of those days where you know that everything is going to be different from this point on. Whenever you are at a new place of employment, you have to determine who is friends with who, who has the power in the department, and who not to trust. Usually, I try to just observe people and their interactions for awhile until I decide where I want to fit in. Choose the wrong alliance and your work experience can be miserable (And people say reality TV is not real!). I have only been working at Penn State for three weeks but I have been able to determine who is the leader among the colleagues that work in my office. I think we have conflicting personality types but my plan was just to let her do her thing and not rock the boat until I needed to - at least that was the plan until today.
In my line of work, I am frequently called to assist students who have poor body images that result in eating disorders. Counseling students with anorexia and bulimia is tough - it's emotionally draining (especially if your own body image is shakey); it's time consuming, and unfortunately it does not always resolve itself positively (very few students actually get help). Eating disorders are so prominent in college students and it's not something that I think is funny or appropriate joking material but today in the office, one of my colleagues, let's call her Power Trip" said she was going to become anorexic. I just ignored her and let another Coordinator, a nice guy that reminds me of the mailroom guy on Just Shoot Me so that shall be his codename, convey that he was concerned that she would think of taking any drastic action like that.
"Power Trip" then said "Fine, then maybe I will be bulimic". Picture me in my office shaking my head. "Or maybe if I just starve myself for 5 weeks" That was it for me and I said, "You know this is not really something you should be joking about. You never know who can hear you and what they are struggling with. It's not appropriate." Um, yeah silence in the office and then "Just Shoot Me" apologized!
In my line of work, I am frequently called to assist students who have poor body images that result in eating disorders. Counseling students with anorexia and bulimia is tough - it's emotionally draining (especially if your own body image is shakey); it's time consuming, and unfortunately it does not always resolve itself positively (very few students actually get help). Eating disorders are so prominent in college students and it's not something that I think is funny or appropriate joking material but today in the office, one of my colleagues, let's call her Power Trip" said she was going to become anorexic. I just ignored her and let another Coordinator, a nice guy that reminds me of the mailroom guy on Just Shoot Me so that shall be his codename, convey that he was concerned that she would think of taking any drastic action like that.
"Power Trip" then said "Fine, then maybe I will be bulimic". Picture me in my office shaking my head. "Or maybe if I just starve myself for 5 weeks" That was it for me and I said, "You know this is not really something you should be joking about. You never know who can hear you and what they are struggling with. It's not appropriate." Um, yeah silence in the office and then "Just Shoot Me" apologized!
# posted by Tracy @ 4:06 PM 
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The way you approach situations with integrity and professionalism helps me become a better professional... thanks :). I know that you and i will be lifelong friends- and i am happy that you are in this feild (for now at least) so that I know that I have somebody that I love to look up to.
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