Page 250 of His Hungry Wolf
“At the beginning of the semester I asked you all what your goals were for the class,” Professor Nandan began.
“Yes. And I said that I wanted to become a therapist, because I do.”
He looked at me confused. “Right. Which makes me wonder why you would do this on a questionnaire designed to determine your level of empathy,” he said before placing my sheet on the desk between us.
“I know, I didn’t finish it.”
“You didn’t. But that’s not what I’m talking about,” he said placing his finger next to the doodle I had drawn in the top right corner of the paper.
Looking at it again, I realized that it was less of a doodle and more of a sketch. I was known to draw on things when I was bored, and they weren’t always happy pictures. This one was decidedly not happy and had a message that was hard to miss.
“You drew a football player hanging from a noose in the corner of an empathy questionnaire? Is there something you would like to talk about, Mr. Seers?”
My mouth dropped open as I looked up at the rounded-faced man in front of me. There was no question what had inspired this. Fuckin’ Evan Carter.
“Okay, I can explain,” I began not knowing what I would say next.
“Go on,” he urged patiently.
Was I going to lie? Tell him the truth? This was feeling like a no-win scenario.
“I might have an issue with football players.”
“You don’t say,” he said sarcastically.
“And, I might have woken up from a bad dream about one of them right before coming to class.”
“Did you want to talk about that dream?”
“Not really. It was a pretty standard nightmare. Lots of chasing. Lots of running. You know, the usual.”
“And then you came here and drew this… on an empathy questionnaire?”
“It would seem,” I said with an uncomfortable smile.
Professor Nandan leaned back in his chair and stared at me. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking but I couldn’t imagine it was anything good.
“The way we deal with childhood trauma is unique to each of us,” he began. “Some of us choose to avoid it. But the most effective strategy for having a healthy, happy life is to deal with issues head-on.”
“You’re suggesting I should see a therapist about it?”
“It wouldn’t hurt. But, what the research shows is that the most effective way to gain empathy for a group is to humanize them.”
“I don’t think football players aren’t human. They’re just the worst ones who ever existed.”
My professor looked at me strangely.
“Right. But you do accept that not everyone who shares a trait is the same? Not every football player is alike. Just like how not every student who dresses in all black and studded bracelets are alike. We are all unique individuals.”
“What are you suggesting?” I asked feeling a knot tighten in my chest.
“I’m suggesting you get to know a football player. I think if you see their individuality, it might go a long way to helping whatever negative feelings you have towards them. It might even help your dreams.”
“And, how do you suppose I get to know a football player?”
“Interestingly enough, there is a program I’ve been trying to put together for a few years. It’s kind of a mentorship thing. Upper-class students are matched with freshmen who are having a hard time adjusting to university life to act as someone they can lean on. Considering your goal is to become a therapist, this might be up your alley.”
“That sounds great. But, I’m guessing what you’re not saying is that I would be mentoring a football player.”