I've been here: reading, but not commenting. I wanted to write a post about my life, but it was job season, and an abysmal one at that.
The academic job market wasn't even sniffing at my applications. Sure, I could hold out until the visiting positions start posting in March, or I could start looking at adjuncting again, but after my experience with Misleading U, well, I won't do it again.
With my COBRA coverage running out and a certain website being a complete disaster, I took stock in my life.
I have many tales to tell about the whole process (ordeal?). The good news is I celebrated the New Year with a new job. With benefits.
I miss teaching. I really do. But, I also had a health issue that needed to be addressed. I'm able to see a physician regularly (and afford the co-pays). Trying to feel well again has become my top priority.
I miss researching. I miss having students. I miss who I thought I would have become.
I do not miss begging at the academic table for a place to sit.
So glad to hear you're doing okay, Maybelle. It's because good people like you can't get jobs that I concluded long ago that the system is broken (anyone remember Invisible Adjunct?). Good luck with everything.
ReplyDeleteI wish you the best, Maybelle.
ReplyDeleteHi, Maybelle! Thanks so much for checking in, and congratulations on the new job (and the benefits). I'm glad you're making taking care of yourself the top priority; someone needs to do it, and no one else is likely to take on the job (certainly not any entity associated with academia).
ReplyDeleteI get the sense of loss, but I suspect we all find our lives turning out to be somewhat different than we expected, even if we take exactly the paths we planned. Being able to take stock, decide to try a different approach, and follow through on it is a pretty valuable skill, one that I suspect will serve you well (as will, in some ways, I'm sure, the Ph.D.).
Do keep us updated, please, when you can. I'm sure there's some room on CM for some "Ph.D. encounters world outside the academy misery" (or maybe even happiness?)
Good to hear from you, Maybelle. You are the correspondent here I think about the most and wonder how you are doing. May you continue to prosper.
ReplyDeleteMaybelle, I am so glad to hear this, because your stories about academe were truly horrifying. May this new life bring you only good things.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you, and glad to hear you found benefits (from a UK perspective, our NHS is very creaky, but the stories from the US about those who fall outside the benefits system are just terrifying)
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