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lauragfoss
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« on: January 20, 2004, 10:58:17 pm » |
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Let me begin by saying I have nothing but sympathy for people who have money problems. I'm just a step away from them myself.
I work for a music school. We give music lessons, which are expensive. However, we do offer financial aid. The amount of financial aid we can offer is dependent upon corporate grants. Therefore, we have a committee that reviews applications and a very strict deadline. I am the staff contact for financial aid.
The deadline for financial aid for our spring semester was January 2. As I've said, that is a very strict deadline, because we have so many requests and limited funds. I had a parent come in today and want an exception to this deadline because her other child is in college and her son wants to continue music lessons. Today is January 20, 18 days past the deadline. She is going over my head to request an exception to the deadline. She has known for months that this next semester was going to be tight, why did she wait so long to ask for aid?
I am more than happy to help people that can follow the rules. Maybe it's just the anal retentive in me that feels so strongly about this, because if I had the power to make the exception, I wouldn't. There are deadlines in place for a reason, and it really irritates me that people think that I should just give them an "in" because they have money problems. So do the other 100+ students that applied on time.
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Katie G
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« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2004, 10:20:20 pm » |
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Laura, I am RIGHT THERE WITH YOU, SISTER! The "entitlement" mentality that is SO prevalent in today's society just burns me up! Everyone is so damned SPECIAL, it seems.
I missed a deadline. But I'm SPECIAL! Process it for me anyway....
I parked illegally. But I'm SPECIAL! Void my ticket......
I didn't make an appointment. But I'm SPECIAL! Just squeeze me in....
Honestly, sometimes you have to really bite your tongue not to say, "Who the he-- do you think you are?!!"
No answers, just sympathy.
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mlm668
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« Reply #2 on: January 23, 2004, 05:01:23 am » |
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I don't think it would bother me so much that she asked for an extension as much as her waiting until after the deadline to ask for it. If she perceived problems making the deadline, she should have asked before the end of the year. I'm the same way about procedures and rules. I'm a black and white person and rarely see the gray areas. If the deadlines are known, they should be met. If there is a procedure, it should be learned and followed. If you have questions, ask, but please don't wait until the day its due to ask the questions. Of course, the real world doesn't work that way. I am always dealing with subs who can't or won't turn their submittals in on time. And to top it off, half the time, I have to hold their hand for them to do it. I can't understand why they seem to think they can do work in this business and not learn how to do the paperwork required on 95% of the jobs. Michelle  |
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Katie G
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« Reply #3 on: January 23, 2004, 04:42:40 pm » |
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"I can't understand why they think they can do work in this business and not learn how to do the paperwork required on 95% of the jobs."
AMEN. It's bad enough when you're dealing with an external customer as in Laura's case. My mind boggles at how much time and $$$ are wasted by internal folks who simply refuse to get it together! I don't want to hear that they "can't". If they "can't", then HOW do these folks stay employed? I could list far too many examples from my own workplace but it would take too long.
Someone once asked what my title is. I replied, "Zookeeper." (All I do, it seems, is clean up other people's messes.......)
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spitfire78
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« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2004, 06:34:10 pm » |
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"I don't want to hear that they "can't"."
My mother has a saying (I used to hear it all the time when I was growing up!) - "Can't" means "Won't"!
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supergirl
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« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2004, 03:14:56 pm » |
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I used this example with my kids:
Me: "Try to pick up that rock." (or whatever)
Kid picks up rock.
Me: "No, don't pick it up. Just TRY to pick it up!"
See the difference? I heard someone else say that once, and it made an impression. Same thing with "I'll TRY to get my reports done on time."
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peana
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« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2004, 10:32:15 am » |
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Something my maths teacher would always say was "it's not can't, it's can't be bothered". That has always stuck with me!
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ozbound
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« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2004, 11:14:03 pm » |
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I agree. I sympathize with people who have money problems, too--believe me, I've had my share! But they have to put the shoe on the other foot--I mean, you people have to get your budget together and pay your bills on time too and how can you do that if they aren't living up to their end of the bargain?
That's what I'd tell them. They can apply next time.
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mathwhizchick
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« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2004, 02:53:41 pm » |
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There's always the oldie but goodie--"Lack of planning on your part does not make it a crisis on mine."  |
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lauragfoss
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« Reply #9 on: January 27, 2004, 10:55:21 pm » |
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Thanks for the repsonses! I'm glad I'm not alone. Thankfully, the person she went to over my head backed me up. Yay! It is so satisfying to have people appreciate what you do and stand up for the policies, and therefore, you and your decision.
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