Mum commitments and degree commitments

[Chocolate35]

I’m in my first year of a degree and currently on a work placement. I’ve just seen on my sons school calendar that he has his first ever school performance next month, while I’m still on placement. What do I do? I already miss so much because of this degree and I know I chose to do it but I feel like crying. He’s really shy so I know this will be a big deal for him. WWYD? Ask for the morning off to go or just suck it up? I’m gutted but I don’t know if asking would look terrible? I’m so torn.

Get the morning off. Bloody loads of student just don't bother going for lectures. A morning off is nothing. Do you have canvas? It'll all be there.

Oh, placement. Sod it, see the performance.

@bottleofbear if it was a lecture I wouldn’t even think about it. I just don’t want to look unprofessional in the job.

I don't know what the placement is, but I'm afraid this is what you have signed up to. It wouldn't go down well in most places I'm afraid. I think you just need to go to the placement.

It totally depends on the employer.

We've had placement students before. I would certainly allow someone in that position the time off to attend their dc's first school performance, and I would hate to think that they might be too frightened to ask. However, other companies may frown on such requests.

Are you hoping to work for them after graduation? If so, maybe check with a friendly colleague first as to how a request might be received and whether or not it would make a bad impression. If you're not hoping to work for them afterwards, then maybe there is no harm in at least asking. I doubt it would have any impact on references, so the worst that can happen is that they might say no?

Our students would get time off for this. Unless it’s a regular occurrence it wouldn’t be an issue