7 ms·
I think you’ve completely misread her. She is saying that she doesn’t know what her students are capable of or what they can do, so she doesn’t tell them her ho
by empath75 7y ago
I think you’ve completely misread her. She is saying that she doesn’t know what her students are capable of or what they can do, so she doesn’t tell them her honest opinion — she merely writes the recommendation letter based on what she knows objectively about the student. If she were to be honest, she’d probably direct some students away from life decisions that they’d have been successful and happy with if they had taken her misguided advice.
- habnds 7y agoI've always been disappointed by people's consistent refusal to voice opinions about my "career" decisions. I'm perfectly comfortable dismissing feedback and advice when I feel that is the best course of action. I want other opinions. It's very difficult to get anyone to give feedback in a meaningful way or opinionated career advice about what I might be well suited to. This was particularly true of college professors. Helpful sentences would start with "I think you would be good at..." or "While you might be able to improve, I think you should steer away from ..."
- jameshart 7y agoAgreed - particularly in my early career I wished more experienced folks would tell me what potential they actually saw in me, rather than constantly being asked what I wanted to do. In particular, this kind of withholding of advice disadvantages people who are first generation college students, from the wrong social background, or lack access to networks. People who don’t know what their options even are, let alone which of those options is suited to them. Denying those people advice is especially cruel.