tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post5854068780001884718..comments2023-10-15T04:23:50.187-04:00Comments on College Misery: "Where Does the Confidence Come From? Where Do I Get It?" The Rascal from Reading.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-44968986309083755772013-10-22T20:11:51.438-04:002013-10-22T20:11:51.438-04:00It is intimidating standing up there and feeling l...It is intimidating standing up there and feeling like the nekkid emperor. <br />Just keep in mind that, no matter how incompetent you feel, you know more than they do. <br />It helps to remind yourself of that on a regular basis.<br /><br />I do think I made a hash of it on a regular basis when I started out in this gig.<br /><br />Hang in there. It gets easier.<br />Hell, sometimes it's Iyrrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06272150097841691708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-15390891113939922402013-10-22T16:42:21.562-04:002013-10-22T16:42:21.562-04:00And welcome to the community of those who post the...And welcome to the community of those who post their darkest fears online!The Contemplative Cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088570661592922436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-73821516514095175552013-10-22T16:41:43.346-04:002013-10-22T16:41:43.346-04:00Wait, we're all confident? Really? It's ei...Wait, we're all confident? Really? It's either liquid confidence of anonymous confidence!<br /><br />Actually, I think I am pretty confident (and I don't feel bad for saying this). But it took me a decade to finally realize I was in charge and had the right to be in charge and that the snowflakes' opinions didn't matter (this was a few years ago when this realization seemed toThe Contemplative Cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088570661592922436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-59700776075018390112013-10-22T14:00:33.758-04:002013-10-22T14:00:33.758-04:00I think you may be seeing a lot more confidence th...I think you may be seeing a lot more confidence than there is. We do smack down students, but notice that nearly all of those letters are letters we wish we could send, but do not, because they'd land us in the dean's office post haste. Likewise with the plans, strategies, ideas, cat juggling, etc. We do catch them when they cheat, because it's so screamingly obvious (when a Froderick Frankenstien from Fresnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11653942918068535424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-10212090923389745852013-10-22T11:26:50.507-04:002013-10-22T11:26:50.507-04:00Yep, mentor is a great suggestion. I developed my ...Yep, mentor is a great suggestion. I developed my own a few years ago in a slightly new position. It's asking for help and some folks don't like that, but it got me over a ton of hurdles. My mentor was begrudging but very kind. He took me out to "seminars" with some other old timers, just scotch and cigars in an old bar downtown. It instantly made me feel at home.<br /><br />We Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-212242866751236932013-10-22T10:59:44.025-04:002013-10-22T10:59:44.025-04:00A mentor can help. Even if your colleagues can...A mentor can help. Even if your colleagues can't answer your questions, you'll know that they are just as clueless as you. That can be comforting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-8410344604255194562013-10-22T10:51:21.045-04:002013-10-22T10:51:21.045-04:00Another post today is key. Fake it till you make i...Another post today is key. Fake it till you make it. Those folks with confidence usually are doing that already. It's not the Algonquin table, you know, that department of yours. You belong there. Don't sweat the small stuff. And academics, man, it's all small.Wicked Walter from Waxahachiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12029251619387101553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-83483781904793238272013-10-22T10:46:28.707-04:002013-10-22T10:46:28.707-04:00er, that should be "Whistle a Happy Tune.&quo...er, that should be "Whistle a Happy Tune." Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-26360122061449411602013-10-22T10:46:01.498-04:002013-10-22T10:46:01.498-04:00indeed!indeed!Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-89431480855537639982013-10-22T10:45:40.821-04:002013-10-22T10:45:40.821-04:00It also might help to read up on the Dunning-Kruge...It also might help to read up on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect" rel="nofollow">Dunning-Kruger effect</a> (to which <a rel="nofollow">Nicole and Maggie called attention last week</a>). Basically, knowing that you don't know a lot (especially, I'd say, knowing that you don't even know what questions to ask) is a sign of emerging competence (or Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-50144022191085314572013-10-22T10:38:47.310-04:002013-10-22T10:38:47.310-04:00Excellent advice above. I was thinking "whis...Excellent advice above. I was thinking "whistle a happy turn" (from The King and I), but, regardless of the catchphrase used to encapsulate the advice, the idea is the same. Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-44024064727991091562013-10-22T10:30:51.692-04:002013-10-22T10:30:51.692-04:00My first dean told me it takes about nine years fo...My first dean told me it takes about nine years for a new Proffie to grow into hir job. I think he was right. <br /><br />And you know what? There's something really charming in your admitted feelings of klutziness. I sense an enthusiasm, and that is a huge factor in attaining confidence. Annie Oakleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02396950355961607377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-24038892745410852352013-10-22T10:01:10.230-04:002013-10-22T10:01:10.230-04:00The Others Rock!!!The Others Rock!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-13861439288688962322013-10-22T10:01:01.666-04:002013-10-22T10:01:01.666-04:00Really really smart stuff, Bella!Really really smart stuff, Bella!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-85652674627740463312013-10-22T09:57:59.235-04:002013-10-22T09:57:59.235-04:00Oh! Mel stole the line I was going to steal! Yes...Oh! Mel stole the line I was going to steal! Yes, Rascal, you just have to fake it. <br /><br />Fake it every damn day, for maybe a few years. And to a point, maybe forever. We are all faking it, at least some days.<br /><br />I remember my first semester teaching. I was REALLY scared to go into the classroom. I was part time, and perhaps this explains why it took me such a long time into Bellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15686242633678466958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-11534776129820914092013-10-22T07:13:28.019-04:002013-10-22T07:13:28.019-04:00Have you heard of fake it like you make it? That&#...Have you heard of fake it like you make it? That's the answer for you right now. All of us who have been where you were just had to fake it for a while until we understood. You're normal, dude. Hang in thereAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-46690084807448771402013-10-22T07:09:37.562-04:002013-10-22T07:09:37.562-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-50762991433286892932013-10-22T06:32:40.637-04:002013-10-22T06:32:40.637-04:00Oooh man, that last line earned you lots of blog c...Oooh man, that last line earned you lots of blog cred!<br /><br />But really, that confidence you talk about is a lot of the times just bluster. Hell, I'm scared half the time about my career. Maybe I'd say I try out my more confident self here before I walk it onto campus.<br /><br />And, Rascal, all that stuff you're feeling is NORMAL. Everyone in this damn profession goes through Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com