I have had many situations where I feel like I am not being heard. I am the youngest of four children. Growing up I was quiet and shy, and my brothers gave me the nickname Ant. My brothers gave me my nickname as a joke, but they did not understand how it affected me. All through my childhood I felt that what I had to say was not important. Whenever I tried to express what I was feeling, my brothers would call me Ant, and I would immediately shut my mouth. I receded more into my shell. Feeling like what you have to say is not worthwhile to other people is an awful feeling. Some of the listening barriers were present. For example, I think my brothers found what I had to say uninteresting and they often criticized me, the speaker, instead of my message. My brothers also would fake attention and they would fail to adjust to distractions. My situation is unique, because siblings have the ability to be kind of mean to each other and still be friends. Also, this situation was not in an academic setting. From my experiences, I have learned to always try to listen attentively, so that no one I’m listening to has to feel like they are not worthwhile. My nickname is no longer Ant, and my brothers and I have both matured to the point where we can effectively listen to one another.
Also, I have sat through many unorganized uninteresting presentations, and it makes me feel like I’m wasting my time. An example would be a lab class that I have taken here at UW-River Falls; the professor was always unorganized and unprepared for our weekly lab. I found it harder to pay attention and retain the material, because I was easily distracted and bored. I think organization can make a presentation, because when you are prepared, it shows the audience that you actually care about your presentation, which inspires a similar interest in the audience.
I know how it feels to be called a nickname that people think is funny, but to you it is not. I don't think people realize how hurtful it can be to be called something you don't like. But I feel like if you speak up and let people know how you feel they will then respect the fact that you told them. Just like in a speech, people will respect and listen to you if you come to speak prepared and in a professional fashion.
ReplyDeleteI also have a lab professor who is never prepared or organized. It takes him 5 or 10 minutes to get started and by the time he finally starts, my attention is already somewhere else. It is hard to focus when a professor is not prepared and constantly has to stop to remember what he wanted to say.
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