Aren't we supposed to support each other?

In class today we had a jury charge speed test at 160 wpm.  Well, my paper did not roll out right during the test and ended up falling to the floor.  I was doing so good during the test I didn't want to stop so I just closed my eyes and hoped that it did not distract others.  After the test one girl says something in the way of...thank you, thank you for letting your paper roll on the floor, great now I did not get the test, or something like that.  I don't know about you guys but I don't know how I was supposed to fix that problem during the test. To me it would be more distracting if someone was trying to fix the paper or just stopped writing all together.  I really am in awe that someone could blame me for not doing well on a test.  What does everyone think?

I have a feeling I'll be in the minority on my view.  I say "Man Up!"

If you were able to continue writing, I commend you for making a conscious decision to do that while you're trying to navigate a test.  This is what the real world of reporting requires at times; stuff happens.   It isn't your responsibility to "hold somebody else's hand" so that they can complete the test.   If something like that happened during a depo, you'd keep writing and try to catch a pause or interrupt briefly while you fixed your paper.

At some point we all need to grow a spine and take a few lumps.  It's good preparation for that other student.    She/he should be saying to herself that she won't let herself freak out if that were to happen again.  Who knows, things like that can happen during the CSR exam.   So get ready now!   There's no crying in court reporting!  J/K

I agree that student should "man up," as well.   I was at a depo a few months back, and I literally had an attorney pull a bagel out of a brown paper bag and start munching on it with his mouth open the whole time.  As if that were not bad enough, every time he would take a bite, he would put the bagel BACK INTO the brown paper bag only to dig right back into the bag for the next bite.  Strange noisy things happen all the time during depos.  That other student should have understood that you probably felt bad enough as it was.  Don't worry about it.  As the saying goes, things happen.  :)

What a blast from the past for me.  I remember 160 being physically tough to surpass.  My brain was ready but my hands, particularly my wrists, were not.  Talk about feeling that burn.   I will admit that I did cry, but it was in the privacy of my home.   With continuous practice,  and after passing three tests at 160,  I sailed straight through to 225.

Students insulting each other after a speed test is nothing new, my friend.  There are people who will never hold a mirror up to themselves to see who is really to blame for their problems. 

Don't lose your sweetness Jdocto43.  True, you have to develop a thick skin, and you will, but this world could use a few more kind people.

I wish you the best of luck, and welcome to the profession.

I actually think you did the right thing -- more true to real life ~ *When distractions happen, just keep right on rollin'*

And I agree with the other posters in that you've (hopefully) demonstrated to this frustrated classmate that, *Hey, stuff happens!*

Perhaps this person was just looking for an out ~ no moment in reporting (student or professional) is ever PERFECT or without distraction.

Perhaps, (in a PERFECT world) this fellow student would have thanked you for testing his/her distraction capacity!   lol!   ;).

Thank you so much everyone for your comments! I really love this profession because of how supportive and encouraging everyone in it is.  It is so united it feels like one big happy family.  Just wanted to make sure I had some support for being human ;)

Thanks Pinksteno, you are so kind!

I agree with everyone who's responded.  I also think she was just looking for an excuse, and you were it!  I worked part time as a CR instructor for many years, so I heard every & any excuse you can possibly imagine for one not "getting" a take.  Believe me, most likely she wouldn't have passed it anyway :-)

I have to agree with what everyone has said here:  That other student should man up!

A few years back, I was in a speedbuilding class, taking a test.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the assistant instructor pick up a rather large dictionary.  He raised this dictionary over his head, and let if fall to the floor!

As you might guess, there were a few unhappy students, but having seen what he was doing, I kept writing (and the instructor kept dictating) ... and the instructor later explained that they did that on purpose -- so that the students wouldn't expect a real-world deposition to be noise-free.

My state's immediate past president told a rather amusing story about a state exam.

Seems the hotel the reserved for the state exam had a few, shall we say, acoustic problems ... and the room itself was right next to a rather busy kitchen.

So.  The test proceeds (that whole "silk purse/sow's ear" thing), and shortly after the exam begins, a waiter comes out of the kitchen, carrying a stack of dishes at the same time that a busboy wheeling a cart full of dirty dishes was heading back into the kitchen ... and yes, the two met in the middle.

The resulting crash caused *everyone* to fail the test that day.

Long story short, tell your frienemy to lighten up a bit.  Between the bagel in the rustling bag, the dropped dictionary, and the crash of all those dishes, a little rustling paper is nothing.

Good luck to you .....

--gdw
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"For a Good (steno) Time ...."
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