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“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.”
“There’s one that has gotten into a little hot water for his behavior. And instead of expelling him from school and the football program, the university thought that something like this would be helpful.”
I stared at my professor. Worst idea ever! Not the whole thing. The mentorship part sounded pretty cool. But the part about me being locked in a room with one of those pig-throwing psychopaths was insanity.
Was he looking to get me killed? As soon as the door was closed and we were alone, this guy would dislocate his jaw and swallow me whole. Having devoured me, he would most likely slither his way to Washington D.C. growing in size until, with his tail wrapped around the Washington Monument, he would eat the president turning the United States into a demonic dictatorship… or was I overreacting?
“Yes,” I said before it registered in my brain. “I’ll do it.”
“You will?”
“Apparently.”
“Are you sure?”
“No. But, yes. Look, I want to be a good therapist someday. Hell, I don’t just wanna be good. I wanna be great. I wanna help people. I want kids to not have to go through what I did growing up. And if that means confronting my issue with a certain group of demonic soul suckers, I will.”
Professor Nandan looked at me questioningly.
“I’m kidding… mostly. No, I’m kidding. I can do this. And you’re right. Confronting my issue head-on is the best way to handle this.”
“Then I’ll set it up. Thank you for this. If this works out with you and him, it could lead to a lot of people receiving help for years to come,” he said with a smile.
“In other words, no pressure?”
He laughed. “No pressure. Just be you. It’s not about you being able to provide him with any answers. It’s about being there for him and lending him your ear when he needs it.”
“I could do that.”
“You’ll do great,” he said before promising to email me the details and sending me off.
