Jenni said no!

Picture the scene.

You’ve just walked into a lecture theatre, ready for a lecture on Language. You sit down, and notice that yet ANOTHER student has come to give a ‘why you should vote for me in the student elections speech’. You roll your eyes, and tap your fingers impatiently, until this is shown on the screen. At which point you laugh along along with everyone else.

Just had to share, because I found it hilarious.

So in other news..I’m mildly pissed off with work and uni. What happened was basically that I have 5 essays and an exam this semester. 4 essays and an exam are due in May/June. The other essay is due on 21st March. So of course we got all the other essay questions weeks ago, and the March essay we got the questions for on Tuesday. And this was after we got told they’d been emailed to us..they hadn’t, and there has been just a lot of general mess-ups. So I have less than THREE WEEKS to write this essay (3,200 words).

Coincidentally, the program that work are so anxious for me to implement has to be finished by 21st March. And they asked me if I could work, and I (reluctantly) gave them dates I could work, knowing I had an essay due in (but not knowing they were going to give us the questions so late).

So I realise that I now have a week and a half to get this essay completed, as opposed to everyone else’s three weeks. And therefore I have been in the library maybe about 12 hours this week and I’m still really behind. I left my phone at home twice, and both times work called me to arrange a half-hour training session so I can understand what the hell I’m doing when I’m implementing it or whatever. The following conversation ensued when I eventually managed to call them back:

Her: So Wednesday’s ok. And we were wondering if you could work next week?
Me: Umm…I can’t really, I have an essay due in on 21st March and I’m already doing a lot of hours for you the week after next.
Her: Oh..right…Because we could really do with you working next Thursday morning. And all day Friday. [Insert spiel about how they *really* want me to do it because I'm *just so good* /sarcasm]
Me: *wtf??* I’m sorry, I can’t really do those days because of my essay. I need to get it out of the way so I’m free to work for you in the second week.
Her: Well maybe you could think about what hours you could work next week and let me know by Monday?
Me: *?!?!?!?!?* I really don’t think I can do it, I have five essays due in and this one is due in on the same day as your program deadline.
Her: Oh..so would it be easier if, say, you just came in for half a day of testing next Thursday?
Me: *I keep telling you I can’t do it so instead you want to schedule me to work on a completely different program that’s not even as urgent?!* I can’t make it, sorry.
Her: Ok. And by the way, we’re probably going to need you to come in to do some work over a weekend…
Me: *head falls off and rolls around on the floor* *It’s a 9 am – 5:30 pm WEEKDAY OFFICE!! I never even considered the idea that people would ask me to work WEEKENDs, and I’ve been working there 8 months* Um. Ok…Maybe. I’ll have to see how my essay goes.
Her: Are you sure you can’t work next week?
Me: [Insert spiel here about how they've only just given us the essay questions and I really DON'T HAVE TIME]
Her: Okay, thanks anyway, see you Wednesday.

Gah. Just gah. I wouldn’t mind, but they specifically said the hours were flexible in the job description, and that they were aware of how important our uni work is and they’ll work around it. And plus, they KNOW that I’m basically the kind of person who will put in the hours if I possibly can. I have offered to stay late before, and I’ve come in early when I know I’m particularly needed, and they know I work hard. I really need to stop being taken advantage of.

But I’m proud of myself for managing to say no for once, and put my foot down with a firm hand

So..on with the essay then *sigh*