[Still Growing]

Originally Posted by jcat62

Iam in somewhat of a difficult situation for me to handle, Iam an older student whom recently started to attend a culinary school and Iam in a situation where one of the students is really getting to me,,,he is from another country besides the usa,,,south american,,,several times he has come up to me and in his own little way has told me that iam "doing it wrong" he walk by my work station the other day and tasted one of my dishes and spat out bluntly that it needed salt,,,he has also demanded that i do things for him,,,,and will walk down the isle and just shout out my name for no reason,,, today he said to me "why do you always run away" ,,,,and the other day he said to me ,,,"what is wrong with you?" I have been in school going on 6 weeks full time,,,and really have had it with this ,,there is so much i can tolerate,,and am at my witts end,,,i have not threatened this person in anyway or have made any type of negative remarks to him,,,I try to igonore his comments and demands but that just does not seem to work,,all of the other students are not this disrespectful, and Iam really afraid Iam going to lose my cool with this person, it is effecting my performance and the enjoyment of the class, I would really appreciate any suggestions on how to deal with this.
thank you

Did you every think its about you?
This does not mean that he is acting in the right way but you cannot control his actions, only your own...

In your post you mentioned that you are an "older student" and he is a "younger student". This is irrelevant to two people who are both students. The fact that you mentioned it makes it relavent to you when it shouldn't be.

The most likely situation is that you feel that you are older and deserve more respect. He most likely feels that since he's younger he does not get the respect that he perceives he's earned. (Be it true or not).

You can choose to deal with him in any way you like but I would suggest that you take the high road.

I would suggest that you give careful considerations to his suggestions and maybe even compliment him on his knowledge and get to know about his experience.

If you can swallow your pride and learn from him but retain what you have knowledge of then you will be the evolving one who will become a better chef.

Pursue quality and truth above all and do not care where it comes from. Be it from a younger student or even a worse chef. You can gain knowledge even from the weaker.

Take the high road and show him what you're about.

Many people will disagree with what it is I'm saying because it is common to want to put people in their place or to fight for our pride but by being humble and listening to even the weaker it empowers you. When you've got it and you know it you don't have to show it.