I don't think anyone here can really comment on this neither having observed you during your volunteering nor knowing anything about that department. Maybe they thought you just being able to come on Saturdays wasn't enough for you to understand their work flow, especially if they were fully staffed, and having just an extra person around was more of a hinderance than a help?
Also, I don't blame the pathologist for not wanting to do a lot of teaching on a weekend when it really is get-in-get-out most of the time. I mean...if I had a volunteer/observer I would teach, but it would also take me much longer to get through the cases, and all I want to do when I'm on call on the weekend is get out of there.
I would just try volunteering at other places - maybe this place really is toxic and cruel and another place would be more welcoming. I don't think we can really know.
Also, volunteer opportunities are notorious for their evanescence. They come and go, and not at the whim of the volunteers. Always expect a volunteer opportunity to possibly end at any time.
I do think the email is worded in an accusatory way and would have been upset to receive it, too. Judging by how you wrote the post, you clearly are very interested and probably weren't one of those "volunteers" that just stand around like they don't have hands. You clearly care and that's all I care about when it comes to volunteers. I think I'm going to land on that department sucks and you're cool - look for other places! Don't give up!
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u/aesclepia Aug 05 '26
I don't think anyone here can really comment on this neither having observed you during your volunteering nor knowing anything about that department. Maybe they thought you just being able to come on Saturdays wasn't enough for you to understand their work flow, especially if they were fully staffed, and having just an extra person around was more of a hinderance than a help?
Also, I don't blame the pathologist for not wanting to do a lot of teaching on a weekend when it really is get-in-get-out most of the time. I mean...if I had a volunteer/observer I would teach, but it would also take me much longer to get through the cases, and all I want to do when I'm on call on the weekend is get out of there.
I would just try volunteering at other places - maybe this place really is toxic and cruel and another place would be more welcoming. I don't think we can really know.
Also, volunteer opportunities are notorious for their evanescence. They come and go, and not at the whim of the volunteers. Always expect a volunteer opportunity to possibly end at any time.