I would really like to know if anyone else has had the same experiences that I have.
First, a little background on me. I am an older male currently in a LVN program.
They only allow 20 students in the program at a time, 10 "Juniors" and 10 "Seniors." The seniors have been in the program for 6 months longer than the new juniors. Seniors are in a seperate classroom. Needless to say, I am a junior.
There are only 2 instructors and the program is one year long.
Anyway, when I first started the program, my thoughts were, "This is going to be rough. I am going to have to devote myself to my studies. I am not here to make friends, but to get through the course."
Now I am not like that, I am a really friendly person and have never met a stranger, but I really didn't want to get side-tracked and wanted to dedicate myself to my studies. Also, I was feeling a little out of place, after all I am older than most of the "kids" that I am in school with. Some of whom have just gotten out of high school. So for the first week or two, I kept to myself and didn't tell anyone anything about myself. I finally was asked questions about myself in class, so I thought, "I really need to be a part of the group, we will have to work together and lean on one another, so I should join in." I volunteered some information and talked a little about my wife and kids. They were astonished and refused to believe that I was married. They were upset that I might be married and yet, did not wear a wedding ring (I never have, I am not big on jewelry). One girl constantly harped at me about the fact that I do not wear a ring (You would think that SHE was my wife, the way she nagged me about it). One day, when I had enough of her asking me about it, I replied, "I don't wear a wedding ring because that makes it harder to pick up women." I was joking of course, and had just about had it with hearing from her. Some of the others refused to believe that I even was married and considered it a "lie" because I had not mentioned it when we first started classes. Also, I am a little bit of a and a , and like to kid around. We were talking about bringing laptops to class one day, and I mentioned that mine needed to be repaired and was on the fritz and one girl said (under her breath), "Probably from looking at Media." I heard her and came back with, "Yeah, I was on my regular website Women With Dolphins and it just started messing up." They were all astonished at this and suddenly, I'm the Media Guy in the class. I was even asked if that was a real website...I couldn't believe it! Don't they know a snappy come-back when they hear one? Every time that I am just kidding about something, they all take it as gospel. They were all talking about how hard we are going to have to study for this course and asked me if I spend a lot of time studying, I said No, I am going to do as little as possible and try to skate through this whole thing.
They thought I was serious! So, every time I say something in a "just kidding" manner, they believe I am serious and when I say, "Hey, I'm just kidding", they say well then, why are you lying to us. I have just about given up on socializing with any of them. We started clinicals and I was a nervous wreck. I screwed up pretty badly many times. I did not understand how to do some of the homework and messed up there. The seniors are in charge of the juniors in clinicals. We are assigned to a senior and they oversee our triumphs and failures and report these back to the instructors. Needless to say, ALL of my failures were reported, but none of my triumphs. Which is another thing that really bugs me, the seniors know all about us, they know our grades, who is passing and who is not, who is doing well in clinicals and who is not, etc. With the few students that are in the classes, word of mouth gets around pretty fast...about everything. I have been the topic of conversation several times. One girl in my class seems intent on getting me kicked out, every time I make one little mistake, she runs and reports it to the instructors. She has made up lies about me, she has spread rumors, she has said many derogatory things in front of everyone when I was present, she has made me cry, she has heard others talking about me and has triumphantly came back and reported what she heard to the class (whether she heard it accurately or not). She even stated where everyone could hear, "You know, you seem like a pedophile to me." I was really insulted and stated (very sarcastically), "Oh yeah. That's why I have two kids." Of course, to everyone there, it was if I said, "Yes, I am. I had children just for that purpose." It's not a "guy" thing, there are two other males in the program. There are other examples, but you get the point. Has anyone else been in a program that is set up like this...where you are being taught by other students? I am really bummed and want to thank everyone for letting me vent like this, I feel a little better. Of course, with my luck, my fellow students or instructors will see this and I will be on the crap list again. I just want to get through it all and be the best nurse that I can be. Anyone have any words of wisdom on the best way to deal with my situation? Please? Thanx.
I was joking of course, and had just about had it with hearing from her. Some of the others refused to believe that I even was married and considered it a "lie" because I had not mentioned it when we first started classes. Also, I am a little bit of a 
and a 
, and like to kid around. We were talking about bringing laptops to class one day, and I mentioned that mine needed to be repaired and was on the fritz and one girl said (under her breath), "Probably from looking at Media." I heard her and came back with, "Yeah, I was on my regular website Women With Dolphins and it just started messing up." They were all astonished at this and suddenly, I'm the Media Guy in the class. I was even asked if that was a real website...I couldn't believe it! Don't they know a snappy come-back when they hear one? Every time that I am just kidding about something, they all take it as gospel. They were all talking about how hard we are going to have to study for this course and asked me if I spend a lot of time studying, I said No, I am going to do as little as possible and try to skate through this whole thing. 
The seniors are in charge of the juniors in clinicals. We are assigned to a senior and they oversee our triumphs and failures and report these back to the instructors. Needless to say, ALL of my failures were reported, but none of my triumphs. Which is another thing that really bugs me, the seniors know all about us, they know our grades, who is passing and who is not, who is doing well in clinicals and who is not, etc. With the few students that are in the classes, word of mouth gets around pretty fast...about everything. I have been the topic of conversation several times. One girl in my class seems intent on getting me kicked out, every time I make one little mistake, she runs and reports it to the instructors. She has made up lies about me, she has spread rumors, she has said many derogatory things in front of everyone when I was present, she has made me cry, 
she has heard others talking about me and has triumphantly came back and reported what she heard to the class (whether she heard it accurately or not). She even stated where everyone could hear, "You know, you seem like a pedophile to me." I was really insulted and stated (very sarcastically), "Oh yeah. That's why I have two kids." Of course, to everyone there, it was if I said, "Yes, I am. I had children just for that purpose." It's not a "guy" thing, there are two other males in the program. There are other examples, but you get the point. Has anyone else been in a program that is set up like this...where you are being taught by other students? I am really bummed and want to thank everyone for letting me vent like this, I feel a little better. Of course, with my luck, my fellow students or instructors will see this and I will be on the crap list again. I just want to get through it all and be the best nurse that I can be. Anyone have any words of wisdom on the best way to deal with my situation? Please? Thanx.