Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Muscles

I am sure you are now envisioning some muscle headed gym rat bulging in all the wrong places. (And if you weren't before, I bet you are now!) But those are not the kind of muscles I want to talk about. I want to talk about Middos muscles. They get worked out whether we like it or not... sometimes we can choose... and sometimes we just have to swallow our pride and let them be worked.
Let me paint the picture for you.
It's a typical college classroom. Girls are writing notes... some are typing them... and then there is the crew in the back, eating their lunches, running out to use their cel-phones, talking incessantly, and basically just being rude and obnoxious.
Sitting somewhere toward the back is me, typing at my computer, alternating between my notes and checking Facebook. My ADD is severe so this helps.
Now, it is finals week. And suddenly, all those girls in the back who couldn't be bother to take notes because omg, it is just soooo hard, and like omg, i couldn't focus, come to me. They text me. They email me. They ask me for my (almost) meticulous notes. 

1. After I told a girl to remind me to send her notes...
 Hi.
thank you so much.
if you decide that you dont want to give them out. i totally understand!

2. From a girl who missed a class:
Hey Rachelli!
would you mind sending me Mrs. ______ notes from last class?

Thanks a ton and hatzlacha studying!!

3.  Another girl who missed class:
can u email me notes from the last 2 classes?

4. This is from a girl who misses class and doesn't take notes when she is in class:
i know im bugging you but can you email me your notes?

5. From a girl who sits in the back and pretty much is clueless about most things, doesn't take notes even when she is in class: 
Hey Rachelli! Cud u email me ur notes?
Hey! Wen u get a chance wud u b able 2 me ur notes starting after last test?

Sometimes they are nice and write me about a class I missed and if I want their notes...
6. Also I realized you weren't in class last week, if you need the notes from then I'd be happy to send you mine.


My middos muscles are screaming that I should do this, no matter how much it hurts me or irks me. So... I did it once. And then again. And then again. And then... again. A part of me wants to throw my computer at their faces for being so obnoxious. Really? You were in the classes too and you couldn't take your own notes? So now you got to distract me the whole time by talking over the teacher and I struggled to type my notes because I couldn't hear, and now you get a full, free set of notes?
And I am ready to just scream.
On the one hand, it is nice that they thought of me. It may be the only time they do. People only seem to remember me when they want something. And want another thing. And another thing.
And what do I get?
The satisfaction of helping them pass their test at the expense of my time, for having to fulfill their requests?
This is college. I wish they learned by now to take their own notes and not rely on other people.... especially when they are in the class with me and think it is ok to talk just because they aren't taking notes.
But maybe I should just deal... maybe it'll be a zechus? A segula?
Last finals are tomorrow.
Thank goodness.

What would you do in this situation? Would you just tell them it is their fault for not taking notes? Would you send them notes, thus furthering their lack of responsibility?
What do you think?

2 comments:

  1. I've BTDT. I've shared my notes with so many people...the ones who slacked off and the ones who had a hard time taking notes. It's tough and makes you feel so taken advantage of. I've never had the guts to say no to someone-even though maybe I should have.
    I wonder what would happen if you would have said no once. Either people would look at you as mean and selfish or they'd find someone else to get their notes from. So I don't know if there's any way to win-except if you say yes and win by overcoming your initial desire to hold back. That's good middos!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yea... its a tough situation. I have learned to just swallow and be happy to help, even if its an inconvenience.

    ReplyDelete

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