It’s Hard Work When You’re Hardly Working
College | California, USA(My friend, who is a bit ditzy and lazy, has just started at an on-campus work program at the college library. She meets up with me at the cafeteria after work.) Friend: “Work...
View ArticleSomeone Has Major Issues
College | New York City, NY, USA(I’m a peer advisor at my college, which includes figuring out what the student is looking for to best service them before we send them to an advisor. This conversation...
View ArticleDue Tonight Vs. Do Tonight
College, Library | Illinois, USA(I’m a librarian in a university library. It’s almost 5 PM and I’m getting ready to go home.) Student: “Hi, I have a research paper and I don’t know how to find sources...
View ArticleModel Behavior
College | Poughkeepsie, NY, USA(Several other high school students and I are on lunch break at a Model UN simulation. I am part of the Nigeria delegation. We are all about 15 years old.) Woman: “So,...
View ArticleDeferred Gratification 101
College | Georgia, USA(I work in a campus post office for students only. Package slips are put in the boxes and an e-mail is sent to the student’s school e-mail address when they receive a package.)...
View ArticleNo, Not That Kind Of Flash Pass
College | Edinburgh, UK(I’m working during a night shift. A girl enters the lobby in her pajamas.) Student: “Um, hi. I’ve locked myself out of my room.” Me: “Okay, no problem. As you know, the access...
View ArticleKnocking The Door Of Opportunity
College | Iowa, USAParent: "It’s ridiculous that I’m expected to give my information for my daughter to go to college. My parents didn’t pay for my college and I’m not paying for hers. I’m not giving...
View ArticleFreedom Of Screech
College | North Carolina, USA(I’m an Admissions Officer and am working at a college fair. We are not religiously affiliated. I run into an alum.) Me: “Hi, is your daughter interested in [college]?”...
View ArticleBiology 101, One On One
College | LA, USA(I’m stretched out on my boyfriend’s bed, burrowed under the covers, and he’s sitting at his desk, adding the finishing touches to an English paper. His roommate pokes his head into...
View ArticleTold His Stories In Passing
College | USA(It’s the first day of class and the teacher, an old man, is telling us about himself. He has a jovial, carefree attitude.) Teacher: “Yeah, I was in the war and I watched my buddies die,...
View ArticleThe Music Of Math
College | UK(A group of plumbers have come to take a technical course, which includes learning higher maths. I’m trying to teach it to them but they keep insisting they don’t need to know it. I decide...
View ArticleLet’s Hope The Project Is A Tardis
College | ON, Canada(I am in an advanced degree course, working on a project. My two classmates had worked hard on part one, so I assumed the same on part two. Then this happens:) Me: “When should we...
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