There is a lot of drama at work at the moment. It's partly because it's the end of term and students are feeling stressed. It seems like more and more students are dropping out or coming to the department heads and me, in student support. We have students with serious mental illnesses, drug addiction and financial issues, as well as ongoing personal or family crises. I'm pretty good at not thinking about work once I get home (this has taken me a long time to learn). What's bothering me now is it's so hard to maintain my levels of care, optimism and empathy in the face of the onslaught of needy students. Each one deserves a sympathetic and accepting ear when they come to student services, but I'm feeling cynical and drained.
Tonight on the ride home I went the long way, going through the park and stopping to look at the sun setting on the water. This helped calm me down, remember that the students' drama is not world-changing and see the beauty in my city.
How do you, if you work in a 'caring' profession, find the balance?
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