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| I've become obsessed with making salsa. |
But the call was not related to politics. It was a work study student from the college I graduated from. She was calling on behalf of the university's alumni relations department and politely asked if she could chat with me for a minute. Reluctantly, I agreed, thinking it wouldn't be so bad. After all, she seemed nice enough and started by innocently asking if I had signed up to receive the alumni newsletter via email. No big deal.
She then recited the address of my parents' house to me and asked if that was still where I lived. I confirmed with her that yes, that was still my address. Then she stated that she doesn't have any employment information for me and asked if I could update that for her. I told her that there was nothing to update. If I had been in a snarkier mood, I might have told her to write "Starving Artist," but I really just wanted to get through the phone call so I could go back to taste-testing my salsa.
She asked what my favorite part of going to that school was. I babbled on about a professor that apparently retired before she started going there, which made me feel old. There was an awkward pause and I could tell she was turning the page of the script she was reading off of. Then the rest of the conversation quickly packed itself into a hand basket and shipped itself to hell.
It went something like this:
Her: "Now, the second reason I'm calling is because this college is committed to offering a Christ-centered education and is collecting an alumni fund to allow other students to attend this school. Are you able to donate the amount of $50 to this fund?"
Me: "No, I'm sorry, I'm really broke."
Her: "That's alright - we understand that times are hard for a lot of people and that you may not be able to commit to donating that amount of money. However, this college is dedicated to offering a Christ-centered education and takes pride in the tradition of alumni students giving back. Are you able to donate the amount of $25 to this fund?"
Me: "No, actually, I don't have any money."
Her: "That's okay - we understand that not everyone is financially able to contribute that amount. However, this college offers a Christ-centered education and has a high percentage of alumni students contributing to this fund that helps other students attend this school. Are you able to donate the amount of $5 to this fund?"
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| Fiesta time. |
What I Actually Said: "Look - I can't even pay my own student loans right now. I CANNOT GIVE YOU MONEY."
She then offered to pray for me. Which might have been sincere, but in that moment it felt like the right-wing Christian version of telling me to go @#$% myself.
I told her I needed to get off the phone and hung up after she politely said "good bye."
I returned to the kitchen and drowned my sorrows in homemade salsa.
I would have rather talked to the Mitt Romney people.
She probably will vote Romney.
ReplyDeleteI got a few of those calls too - confirming my address and asking for alumni donations. I feel like telling them that when my education has earned me more than a barista job, I'll consider it. The whole point is to give back because the school gave you so much and blah blah blah - but if you haven't yet been rewarded financially for your studies, it seems silly to give the school MORE money. Tuition is high enough.
P.S. I had no idea you went to a Christian college...
Yeah, I get those calls too. The first year out I gave like $10, now I know the number and never answer. I ignore them roughly 30 times in that two week donation period.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather donate to your rock career than my college.
Haha!! I probably would have chewed her out a little at that last one. I'm sure it isn't the first time she had been told off, after asking three times when you are obviously not interested. Funny. :)
ReplyDeleteAw I used to be that annoying work-study student :) Our little "script" was much shorter & to the point, however. And even though it was a Christian university I didn't have to say that 5 times (shouldn't you know if you graduated from there?) try to guilt trip anyone by prayer.
ReplyDeleteThe call center at my college was the highest-paying on-campus job but also the worst. Everyone who did it hated it. You'd get fired if you didn't make a certain amount. The girl who called you is probably almost as broke as you.
ReplyDeleteI get hit up for money by my old college, too. They're going to be bugging me for money until I die, and when I die they'll hit up my relatives.
Ugh, what an awful phone call. I hope you did laugh afterwards!
ReplyDeletehahahahha. If someone had said anything like that to me I would have hung up.
ReplyDelete