miss cayce

Kids these days!

I was excited about the intern I was going to be in charge of, starting this month. Met up with her a couple of months ago - she seemed pretty decent. She had to go back to the local uni in another state so we said that we would keep in touch via e-mail. And so we did - she sent me an e-mail enquiring about my field-dates for April, and I replied that I probably would still be in the field on the first week of April (this was before my field assistant busted his knee, and one of the labourers got drunk, forcing me to leave early), however, please come to the office anyway because I had some required reading for her. I told her the exact same thing when I met her in person.

So what does she do? She showed up in the office this morning at 7:30 a.m., in full camping gear. I wasn't in yet (we start at 8 a.m.). When asked what she was doing here, she informed our receptionist that I had asked her to come today because we were leaving for the field. My receptionist asked whether I had contacted her - "yes, I sent her an e-mail and she told me to come today!"

WTF???

She then left in a huff (W. said in a hush).

When I arrived in the office and heard what happened, I immediately called her. The first question to her was, "did you read my e-mail?"

"Errr.. I never checked it."

For two months?? When she had asked me an important question and knew that I was going to reply via e-mail??

What I'm most disturbed about is that she lied. I mean, ok - I'd give you one pass for bimboness (we all have our moments) but to insist that I had e-mailed her to come in today because we were leaving for the field??? That's pretty inexcusable.

I'm still giving her a chance (what to do - we already signed the university consent forms) and taking her to the field next week. However, I'm really disappointed because I had high hopes for her. I was hoping that she would play a bigger part in this project after she graduates this year. But to be extremely dumb like that, and then lying to make it sound like it was someone else's fault than her own.. is just really scary. I really can't trust her to collect data for me. I'm only willing to take her through her internship (if she shapes up) but that's the end of the road for her.

Why is it so hard to find good local graduates?? I would dearly love some help but these kids don't seem to have their heads screwed on straight.



updated: Ok, I just had a talk with her - it seems like she's more careless/clueless rather than dishonest. She still insisted that I told her that we were to leave today until I methodically took apart her statement. She then insisted, "but it's no big deal right? It's not a big deal for me - is it a big deal for you??"

Ohhh.. why must she dig her hole further??

She's a nice kid after all, I think I terrified her a bit for being all stern (hee). I'd just have to whip her into shape. Oh la. Wouldn't you like to work for me.

posted by Cayce @ 9:36 AM