Everybody deals with emergencies. Sometimes they are more time consuming and bigger than other emergencies. Here are a few general tips for handling emergencies, big or small.
1. Assess the emergency.
– How big is it? Does it need attention now or can it wait just a little longer? Also, take into account your previous obligations (class, work, etc.).
2. Let people know you will be occupied with the emergency.
– In any emergency, the appropriate people should be notified that you will be unavailable due to that emergency. These people may include professors, instructors, and/or supervisors.
– Be prepared to explain briefly and professionally that you have an emergency that needs to be taken care of. It helps if you include how long you may be unavailable.
3. After handling the emergency, assess what was missed and what needs to be handled.
– The emergency may have interrupted your schedule of studying or completing assignments. It’s up to you to rearrange your schedule and make more time to complete any needed assignments and studying.