Londonward

The LSE is bursting at the seams. I don’t remember if there were this many people around during the first few days of last year. Probably there weren’t - the School is recruiting more and more students each year. It is a bit frustrating, though, especially since a lot of the library space is still under construction.

I’m bursting at the seams a little as well. I’ve got this part-time work to think about and as the only remaining committee member of the Geography and Environment Society, I’m responsible for its continuation this year. Thankfully I’ve managed to rope some friends to help me out and man the Freshers’ Fair stall. Add to that friends coming over from Finland, lectures starting and other things still bubbling under the surface, and I’ve got hectic days ahead.

Kids these days. During my three-and-a-half-hour shift today, I reset several dozen passwords, read out simple step-by-step instructions to a fascinated and nodding audience (several times to varied groups), and showed a Greek girl - or more accurately, her father - how the LSE IT system works.

To be honest, I don’t see why parents feel the need to accompany their children to the most menial administrative tasks at University - especially since the girl was quick to catch on and by no means computer illiterate. That the guy had actually gone through the trouble of getting a visitors’ permit to enter the library showed commitment and a willingness to follow through with his daughter’s first steps at the World’s Foremost Social Science Institution. It reminded me of the very concerned-looking Asian boy at registration last year who, upon being prompted for his password looked back to the queue and called, “Daddy! Passport!” Maybe it gives them peace of mind, leaving their sons and daughters in the protective confines of University, having seen what it is like.

I guess it’s hard for me to comprehend how a person who is a whole year and a half younger than me is in a research program, studying social research methods (or another doing a Human Rights degree). To be honest, what do they know of reality? I can’t possibly call myself an authority on anything, and they can, holding Masters’ Degrees. Have a think - a 22-year old Management Masters graduate: how much actual management can they have seen, or been under?

That’s why I find it easiest to think of most people calling to the LSE Student IT support “kids”. It’s a madhouse, with people from a multitude of different backgrounds, academic levels and work cultures trying desperately to get settled into the groove of being at University, in London and often, on their own. I guess I can sympathize with that, but them yelling “But I need to get that printed to get a bank account!” when there’s a line of students stretching around the block to the nearest bank and there are several dozen other people in the printer queues does grate you a little bit.

Still, I’m heading back to the fray at 9:30 tomorrow.