Friday, my girlfriend and I were in line at Food Court like everyone else. This guy in front of us tries to pay for his dinner with his ID, but it doesn't scan through. The woman working there asks him what's up with his ID. He tells her that it should work, talking down to her like she's an idiot. Well, she tries it again and it doesn't work, the line is getting longer, and the cashier is getting madder. She tells him to either pay cash or borrow a friend's ID. Then, he goes off about how he's getting a new ID, so the Valedine must have canceled his old one, and this woman needs to let him go through the line without paying.
At this point, the line is really long, this is the only register being used, and my girlfriend, fed up with this dork, just says, "Here, use mine." So he greedily charges his food and, without so much as an apology or an offer for a meal, goes off to sit with his friends. Oh yeah, before that he goes off rambling to my girlfriend, trying to explain why this isn't his fault and '"they" are to blame. This is not only a perfect example of what is wrong with so many Dartmouth students, but it also helps to explain why so many people, staff and Hanover workers, dislike students.
First of all, to the rude random, just because you exist does not mean that others were put on the planet to serve your needs. Also, everyone else is not the same generic person. Because someone in the Valedine messed up, or you were just too lazy to go there, do not blame the woman working the register at Food Court. She is only doing her job as best she can. She has no obligation, nor should she, to make sure that you have your ID. Therefore, she should not be held accountable. Learn that other people are not an extension of you, and that they cannot make everything in your life work.
Second, show some respect for favors. I mean all this guy had to do was say "Thank You," or just deny my girlfriend's kind offer and grab one of his friends ID's. And at least pretend like you're going to make some sort of effort to give something back. Again, this is a perfect example of the mindset that so many people, especially Dartmouth students have, that the world exists only for them. Wake up, this isn't a dream. I don't know how you ended up this way, but you must either change, or be content knowing that you are a jerk.
Now in the past I have been the first to point out when staff workers have for no reason made student's lives more difficult. Perhaps it is out of revenge for having to deal with so many students like the one that I have just described to you. Maybe dealing day in and day out with students who only want something for themselves and show no consideration or respect for those from whom they request service has worn down the good spirits of many staff members. Yet, from my personal experience, the Food Court staff is the nicest and friendliest staff on campus. Sure beats the Registrar's office, hands down.
I can understand why people would get so frustrated with the jerks that they encounter. I think that some of this air of self-centeredness comes from taking this Ivy League status too far. Hey, everyone here is smart. So are many people who are not students here. Just because you are lucky, do not believe that you are The Bomb. A lot of why we are all here is luck: luck that our family can afford this place to whatever degree they do, luck that we were born in this country at this time, luck that we got accepted, and luck that we were given all of those tools that were beyond our control to get here. Stop confusing luck with talent.
To end on a happier note, the register woman gave my girlfriend a free dinner when she next saw her. Although she was still fuming about that rude guy, she was able to see past him to those of us who are kind and giving people. That woman proved, to some small extent, that how you sow you shall reap. Let us all sow the seeds of good faith, kindness, selflessness, and fundamental respect for others.
