I'm just so completely embarrassed over last night. I had Chemistry lab, and we had to do something that should normally be simple, lighting a bunsen burner. Well, I've never used a match and I'm petrified of fire. I mean I have like a full fledged phobia. I was willing to manipulate the bunsen burner, but I just wanted someone to initially light the match and light the bunsen burner. Anyways, I called over the teacher's assistant and told him really politely my situation, and asked if he would willing to do that. Well, he just got so pissed off and said that I need to learn these things, I'm in college, and this is one of the most basic things in chemistry laboratories. However, he really said it so mean. It was uncalled for. He was just so upset at me. I felt so little and so embarrassed. I really should have gone to the professor, but I was so embarrassed. So I tried lighting the match and got it lit, but then freaked out, dropped it, and had blow it out right away. I mean I was having a full fledged panic attack and I almost started really crying. I know this may sound so trivial, but it really does scare me. So I went to another teacher's assistant and he was completely nice, and did it for me. I was fine after that. But then it was like every little thing I do the original teacher's assistant came over and yelled at me. I left my drawer open by accident and he got mad. But then, I was taking long when I had to do convertions. I wanted to get it right. I just felt so pressured because he came over and kept telling me to hurry up..he was getting mad. He's like with an attitude we'll be here till next morning. I did finish the lab which is the good thing, but I'm just worried all my labs will be like this. Susanna
Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.
.wysiwyg { background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%; background-color: #f2f2f2; background-image: none; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal } p { margin: 0px; }i think you should light a match and stick it down the TA's pants.
that is very rude and unprofessional of the TA to talk to u and treat you that way. everyone is there to learn not be, belittled and treated like 3rd graders.
i hope u get thru your labs ok., maybe ur lab partner can help u lite the bunsen ?
Susanna - please don't worry about this little bump in the road...not worth your worry I assure you. I have never smoked nor lit too many matches before I went to chemistry class. The assistant needs some lessons in manners 101.
Because the TA represents the instructor and contributes directly to the learning atmosphere of the class, I think the behavior should be reported.
I wouldn't do it in a whiny, complaining way but rather in a mature and matter-of-fact way that lets the instructor know how their class is being run.
Having served as a chem lab TA a number of times I can tell you that my professors would've wanted to know if their TAs were behaving so poorly as that.
Oh boy...the assistant certainly should not have treated you that way, but work with you to try to help you with your fear...I'd complain about him...what a jerk!!
Hope you are able to figure out how to overcome that!!! I agree with lighting the matches...bet that will help over time...at least a little!
Phobias are real and often crippling. You may want or need to deal w/that @ some time.
I have a much bigger problem w/someone who is supposed to help the students get the most out of their lab bullying a beginning student than you not being able to lit the bunsen burner b/o of a real issue: you are afraid of fire.
I would go and talk to the prof. It is very non-productive for him to impede your learning. OK, you're not in there to become a chemist. But, you paid for this course, and you deserve to get the most out of it. My guess is that he is getting paid to be a lab ass't, not to be a bully.
jmho
p.s. I don't think you're a complete idiot. You're a student. You're not supposed to know stuff. You are willing and capable of learning! Good Luck!
I just helped my middle school student learn to open a combination lock.....just remember its right left right. Start at 0, Right to the first number, Left completely around once, and then stop at the second number, right to the third number. You will get it.
Bunsen burners to this day frighten me. I was trying to adjust the flame on one once and I screwed the thing right off, and had a large fireball as a result. From that moment on, I refused to light them again!
I'm sorry the TA was a jerk. I'm also suprised that you didnt' have a striker!
p.s for my bio lab, we have to open lockers to get our equipment out!! and i never used combination lockers so i was the only one still trying to open the locker while everyone had theirs open and sat and just watched me struggle, oh well, i laugh at myself knowing that eventually i will get it!! it will still embarressing!!! if anyone knows how please tell me!! good luck anyway!!
and indeed, i've already learned to open them, this nice person in my chem class showed me how!
I mean this in the best possible way so don't think I am being mean too, but you really ought to learn how to do it. You can't have the lab assistant do it for you every time.
I'm kinda surprised they made you use matches. We had this little thingy that you squeezed and it created a spark. I can't tell you how may attempts it took for me to get that darn thing to light. Don't feel bad. Chem labs are chock-full of not so great experiences. I had this one lab where I couldn't stop dropping test tubes. They just kept slipping out of my hands. And there was this one girl who was like, the teacher's pet and she was kinda snooty and "knew it all" and she ended up heating a beaker for so long that it shattered. So don't worry about not being able to light the match or your fear of fire. It could always be much worse....
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
susanna. . .it's time to grow a backbone. nurses don't let people intimidate them. they can't because they are problem solvers, not milquetoasts. you need to muster up some assertiveness and face this guy and tell him, "there's no reason for you to speak in a mean way to me". that simple. and, keep repeating, "i've told you before that there's no reason for you to speak meanly to me," every time he talks to you that way. either he'll get the idea or he gets those words from you. either way, you'll at least feel like you've done something to put yourself on an equal basis with him. i'm aggressive enough that i'd probably add, "you're supposed to be here to help us out. if you can't do that maybe i better let the instructor know." but that's just me.
you can't make anyone do anything, but you can point out their behavior to them. and, if he in any way threatens your grade you tell him point blank that "i'm reporting your behavior toward me to the instructor." the instructor is his boss.
I'm sorry you have such a rotten TA. Here's a thought, if you go to a candle store or maybe Kmart / Target, or Wallyworld (that's Walmart tee hee) you can get those super duper long matches. I love using them to light my candle. You can hold the stick in the middle, hold it as far away from you as you like, and the handle is super long that you don't even have to get near the bunsen burner. Definately look into them if you can.
I hope your semester goes well and that monster of a TA doesn't make you life miserable. People like him are so unnecessary sometimes. ugh!
Pneumothorax, BSN, RN
1,180 Posts
.wysiwyg { background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: repeat; background-position: 0% 0%; background-color: #f2f2f2; background-image: none; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal } p { margin: 0px; }i think you should light a match and stick it down the TA's pants.
that is very rude and unprofessional of the TA to talk to u and treat you that way. everyone is there to learn not be, belittled and treated like 3rd graders.
i hope u get thru your labs ok., maybe ur lab partner can help u lite the bunsen ?