Since we had conferences on Friday I was able to have a slower start to my day. Our parent teacher conferences don’t start until 11, so that give me time to actually help get my kids out the door. Unfortunately, me being home and getting up later doesn’t really help. That just set things in motion a little later than normal. I rushed them out the door to only realize that my son forgot his Epi-pens at home. No problem, I will drop them off on my way….
I get to the school and press the buzzer: Secretary: “Can I help you?” Me: “Yes, I am here to give my son his Epi-pens, he forgot them at home.” Secretary: “Come straight to the office.” As I walk straight into the office, as directed, I see a woman that peers out to the side of the computer and just stares at me. Secretary: “Driver’s license” So I hand it to her with a smile on my face, she hands it back to me with a guest pass. Without making any direct eye contact with me, she says “Go to the nurse’s office.” I have to be honest, my smile is starting to diminish. I connect eyes with the other mom waiting, we both kind of shrug our shoulders and I walk out the door. The nurse’s office is about ten steps from the main office. I get there and there is a big red sign on the door that read “the nurse is unavailable, please go to the main office.” I start to chuckle, knowing that the secretary will be mildly annoyed since she was quickly able to pawn me off elsewhere. Walking back in, I wait my turn again to explain that the nurse was unavailable. Secretary: “Name of the student again. How do you spell the last name?” Me holding up the tag: “STR…” She interrupts me to say “Oh, it is the same last name as yours,” but I just continue to spell the rest of OUR last name. She lets me know that it will be a few minutes until he transitions to lunch and then he will be here. I just sit patiently until he arrives, my sweet boy thanks me and gives me a kiss before heading back on his way. I walk out. The other mom tries to create small talk with the secretary to compete with the awkward silence, but was to no avail. I just can’t help to think that this woman try smiling a little more. She is the face of the school and is the first experience when people walk in the building. I get that she deals with a lot of dynamic people and problems. However, just greeting a person with a hello and a smile can maybe make a big difference in how interaction goes….positively or negatively.
3 Comments
Teri Keys
3/17/2019 08:21:18 pm
A little smile goes a long way. Why someone chooses to be in a position that requires them to interact with people when they clearly don't care to interact with people, is beyond my comprehension. We'll just keep smiling.
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Michelle
3/17/2019 10:27:01 pm
I love that Teri, yes we will just keep smiling! :-)
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Sara T.
3/24/2019 02:13:53 pm
It KILLLLLS me when people in customer service have the worst personalities for customer service. You are so right about being "the face of the school". If you don't like dealing with people, then get a new job. Kill em with kindness only works for me for so long.
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AuthorI have worked in social work for over 25 years. The past 19 years have been within an elementary school setting. Archives
March 2022
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