Saturday, November 18, 2006
On Work in the Academy -- A Preface
After watching a couple inspiring episodes of The Wire (one of my fave shows ever) I was inspired to finally begin writing my long-proposed series of blog entries on working in the academy. This entry will serve as a preface in that it's not entirely about the academy but more about one of the things that lured me into academia -- teaching (the other is writing, but that entry will be much, much later).
Both my parents were trained as teachers. My mom did a two-year teaching certificate at U of Regina (then a subsidiary of U of Sask.), and my dad did a B.Ed. at the same place (geography and economics double major, stats minor -- and he did it in 3 full years).
I remember mom telling me that she didn't do a full degree because she didn't feel she could afford it, even with student loans -- she came from a pretty poor background. She worked outside of school every year she was in uni. Mom has always been a champion of my continuing student status, and it's affected me greatly ever since I was wee. In fact, she went back to university when my sis and I were kids, and she did so while working, which pretty effing impressive, in my books -- I can barely manage my own household, and I don't have kids or a full-time job in my field outside of school. My dad has always encouraged me to write, because he says being able to write naturally is a gift -- which it can be, but it's also a skill that those not so comfortable with writing can learn, and I hope I can help people with their writing skills through my career. I'm lucky, because not all perma-students have great support from their family, and that makes finishing the long journey towards the PhD even more difficult. I don't think my parents are supportive because they were teachers (both work in other fields now), but perhaps their teaching background makes them more understanding of my long-term goal -- to be a professor at a university.
Huh. Typing it out makes it sound so boring, but I can assure you that I didn't half-assedly decide to purse an academic career. I didn't just get into grad school and never get out. I only took one year off, but that year, combined with the previous MA year at Jackass Uni, solidified my desire to become an English prof. Oh, I guess I should also add that my (combined) years of being a piano teacher, a research assistant, a teaching assistant and an impromptu-sure-I'll-help-you-with-your-essay-tutor.... well, all those things helped too.
So now, here I am, a working member of the academy. Right now I'm a research assistant, a teaching assistant and a full-time PhD ABD student, and I'm going to write an entry on each of these jobs in the next couple weeks.
So check back soon.
Both my parents were trained as teachers. My mom did a two-year teaching certificate at U of Regina (then a subsidiary of U of Sask.), and my dad did a B.Ed. at the same place (geography and economics double major, stats minor -- and he did it in 3 full years).
I remember mom telling me that she didn't do a full degree because she didn't feel she could afford it, even with student loans -- she came from a pretty poor background. She worked outside of school every year she was in uni. Mom has always been a champion of my continuing student status, and it's affected me greatly ever since I was wee. In fact, she went back to university when my sis and I were kids, and she did so while working, which pretty effing impressive, in my books -- I can barely manage my own household, and I don't have kids or a full-time job in my field outside of school. My dad has always encouraged me to write, because he says being able to write naturally is a gift -- which it can be, but it's also a skill that those not so comfortable with writing can learn, and I hope I can help people with their writing skills through my career. I'm lucky, because not all perma-students have great support from their family, and that makes finishing the long journey towards the PhD even more difficult. I don't think my parents are supportive because they were teachers (both work in other fields now), but perhaps their teaching background makes them more understanding of my long-term goal -- to be a professor at a university.
Huh. Typing it out makes it sound so boring, but I can assure you that I didn't half-assedly decide to purse an academic career. I didn't just get into grad school and never get out. I only took one year off, but that year, combined with the previous MA year at Jackass Uni, solidified my desire to become an English prof. Oh, I guess I should also add that my (combined) years of being a piano teacher, a research assistant, a teaching assistant and an impromptu-sure-I'll-help-you-with-your-essay-tutor.... well, all those things helped too.
So now, here I am, a working member of the academy. Right now I'm a research assistant, a teaching assistant and a full-time PhD ABD student, and I'm going to write an entry on each of these jobs in the next couple weeks.
So check back soon.
doctor T 1:22 a.m.