Avoiding compassion fatigue
It is important to avoid getting emotionally overwhelmed by the challenges and struggles of the students.In these difficult economic times, many of my students come to me for emotional support and it is a challenge to maintain a balance between helping and getting over involved.
Hi Dawn,
Well said concerning our role as instructors. If we become too involved and forget the reason for being there we are doing an injustice to and for our students.
Gary
I teach at a school with a more difficult demographic so many of our students have these heartbreaking struggles. It is easy to get caught up in it all but we have to remember what we are here to do....teach the student. We can do what we can to offer them resources and sometimes an ear but ultimately, we need to make sure they receive and understand the course information.
Hi Regina,
Good to hear that you have a support team of experienced instructors that you can use as resources as you develop your instructional skills.
Gary
As a new instructor it is very easy to get too involved. I found that tenured instructors are a great help and support in helping to draw the line in order to maintain that balance.
Hi Mili,
You make a very good point about maintaining your balance between being supportive of your students and being overwhelmed by them. Try to keep this balance because if you become overwhelmed then you are of no good to yourself or your students. Take some to to reflect on what is going on around you so you can see where the real needs are for your students and concentrate on them.
Gary
