So, if you've been to a handful of these like I have, then you'll enjoy the next thoughts that follow. For those who haven't, you're shit out of luck. Has anyone else noticed: there's always an obnoxious volunteer? You know, that person that acts all knowing about the topic, hence feels the need to constantly raise his/her hand to volunteer an answer. Yeah, that herb (pronounce the H). This time it was a he, and, unfortunately, that he was seated in front of me.
I was the personal audience to this guy making an ass out of himself. He seemed to have taken a previous class on the subject, because he knew the name of concepts, but his concepts were inapplicable and a bunch of bs. He sounded like someone who just learned new vocabulary and used it incorrectly just to prove he knows the word. Sad.
Luckily, he realized he wasn't cutting it and relaxed. Then there was really slow guy. The one who continues to ask for clarification on every bullet note in the power-point. Sigh. Oh yeah, everyone is twice my age. It's part of the fine print of being the youngest at what you do: being around "seasoned professionals." Forever. This guy also has you go through emotional shifting. At first, you're just annoyed at the question after question. Then, you go through a phase of finally wanting to shout at him for being so stupid. Finally, you realize it's not really his fault, maybe he has a real condition or diagnosis, and empathy settles. Actually, that probably kept me awake after lunch.
Other than that, I learned a lot! It was advanced motivational interviewing. I've taken spirit of M.I. before and it definitely left me interested. Oh, I should have mentioned this in the beginning: it was a 9-5 training.
Right?
