Monday, December 12, 2011

Why you shouldn't lie.... or why I shouldn't lie at least....

      I've done it again. You'd think Jeff's training would have stopped me by now. I am always putting my foot in my mouth, explaining things that don't need to be explained, apologizing for dumb things, or other random stuff that would makes situations awkward. Often, the solution to most of these awkward situations is to JUST KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT! Well, wish I would have thought about that before I made a phone call about 30 minutes ago.
       As many of you know, I am hoping to start Temple's credential program in the Spring. Well, if college admissions isn't confusing and crazy enough, graduate programs are even more so. Ok, maybe I am the only one who gets confused, but their websites are very confusing. I went in last Spring to talk to the lady who Temple's website said is in charge of credential admission. I met with her and she knew nothing. I seriously mean nothing. She could not tell me how long the program is or what grade level I will be able to teach when I have completed the program. Needless to say I was shocked at her lack of knowledge, but more so bummed out because I didn't get my questions answered. So, I scheduled a meeting with her boss earlier this past Fall semester. Meeting with her did help, but I was still confused about a few things. Oh, and she also explained that the lady I spoke with had just started her position that semester so that is why she knew practically nothing about the program (which I don't fault her for that, after all, goodness knows I'm surely confused about it). Anyways, that brings us to today.
         By some miracle, when I checked my Praxis I scores today I had passed all three sections. Not sure how I passed the math section, but it's a tender mercy from Heavenly Father I'll take. I really thought I'd not pass the math section and be put back to take the next Praxis test. I have to pass both the Praxis I and II to be accepted to the credential program at Temple. The first is a basic knowledge test and the second is on history (my subject matter). So, with the shock that I may actually be able to start the program this spring as I had hoped, I was left with a few more questions. The only problem was that the person the website said to call for questions was the first woman I had spoken too. I should mention that I had also e-mailed this lady before even meeting with her last spring. When I saw that name in bright blue on the bottom of the screen I was not happy. I hate being a nag. Being a nag is bad enough, but being one because you still don't understand something you've been told multiple times is worse. I had the perfect solution: I'd lie. Ya, lie. A simple lie. That wouldn't be too bad, right? I'll just give her a fake name, ask my questions and hang up. Wrong! If only my life was that simple.
        When she picked up the phone I told her my name was "Jane" and I  had a few questions about starting the program in the spring. After she answered my questions she said, "What's your e-mail, I'll send you some information about admission." I didn't want to give her my school e-mail because it had my student id number and I wasn't sure if she'd be able to look up and see that it was me. Easy fix, right? I said, "Oh, well I do not know my school e-mail so..." (hoping to end the conversation right there). She said, "That's ok, I'll take your personal one, what is it?" My personal e-mail? You mean the that clearly has my real first name in it, not this "Jane" lady who I had suddenly become? I don't think so. So of course, I lied again. I said, "Well, that one isn't really that reliable..." (isn't reliable? Who am I kidding? Then what's the point of it?!) and said, "Oh, I found my school e-mail, here it is." She took my e-mail and we hung up.
      After we hung up I checked my e-mail. She is the person I am supposed to send all of my admission stuff to!! She said for me to just e-mail her back when I had the stuff ready to turn in. E-mail her back?! As who? Jane or Annalisa? It's times like these I wish I would have just thought first. So now I'm not looking forward to our awkward face to face when she receives my application.  When I told Tk this she said, "Just do it after break. Call back, tell her your name, give your personal email and let Jane fade away." I guess that's best thing for me to do. I am going to wait till after break and hope she forgets I even said my name was Jane. It's kind of funny of the ridiculous predicaments I get myself in because I care so much about what other people think.If I hadn't cared in the first place that this lady might think I'm a nag or dumb for calling so much, I would never have been in this situation in the first place. Oh life.
Love,

Jane
Annalisa