By: An Anonymous SP from a University in the Midwest
Submitted by: Kerensa Peterson, NBOME
Q: How has your experience as an SP changed since the pandemic? Greater lulls between SP events to participate in throughout the past few months, that's for sure. I was afraid we wouldn't have any events as soon as we did. Either June or July, if memory serves. When we definitely didn't have any in the months of April and May. Even if they have been through Zoom and not in person. That's another thing. Working remotely/virtually has certainly been different. Makes my job harder, I believe. Sure, it's nice to be able to stay home and work from there, but it puts pressure on me to still be able to react properly to a learner's body language. Having that extra barrier between us makes all of that a little harder to decipher. Occasionally, I feel drained. Zoom fatigue, as it were.
Q: Have you had to look for other work? If so, what are you doing? I've certainly tried to, if I'm being honest. Steadier work with actual benefits. It's not easy. Especially considering I would prefer something like that within this line of work. I've been using sites like Indeed and LinkedIn. Just searching for stuff like creative writing positions or movie production positions. Yet, like I said, I really enjoy being a standardized patient and would really love to have steadier work hours with benefits through this program.
Q: What’s the kindest thing someone has done for you as an SP during this time? My bosses have been great about checking in on us after each event in deroling/debriefing with us. It's also nice to be thanked by some of the learners themselves, like at the end of our Vital Talk events. It's nice to be appreciated.
Q: What’s the kindest thing you’ve done for someone else during this time? Not during an event as an SP, but I've been trying to overtip delivery drivers when I can, as well as donating money to certain causes like Black Lives Matter and Suicide Awareness.
Q: What’s the most difficult thing about returning to SP work or the prospect of going back to SP work for you? I guess the biggest thing that worries me outside of COVID-related issues is where our department stands. I would hate for this program and other programs like it to be dismantled or downsized. These are difficult times. Don't make them more difficult, period. So, the most difficult thing is not knowing if the SP program will continue, and if it's going to continue how much longer are we going to be participating remotely/virtually or will we eventually participate in in-person events? If there are in-person events, what are those going to be like? I'm scared about it all. I worry to no end, and yet we still have to press on. Somehow. Someway.
Q: What’s been the most challenging part of the pandemic for you outside of SP work? The craziness of all that's going on. Not being able to feel like anything is going to be, not normal again, but... I'd say, like anything is going to be right as rain. Like Pandora's Box is going to stay open.
Q: From your perspective as an SP, what advice would you give to SP educators around the world? It's a wonderful thing to help in someone's education. It not only betters them, it betters you as well. We never stop learning. There's always room for improvement. Never get relaxed. Enjoy yourself, but stay on top of things. Keep challenging yourself.
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