I’m 7 days from my big move. Everything is coming to a head at one time, which is how these big projects go down. It doesn’t make them less stressful.
I have to fight the urge to “look ahead”, focus on September when all this will be behind me. Because if I do that, I’m apt to miss some of life’s crunchy goodness between now and then. That’s 6 weeks of potential I’m not too willing to let go even if it means I have to deal with a little bit of the uncomfortable.
Still.
But I digress before I have even started, which is an awful way to focus on the good. And there’s lots of good to be had.
I just received my schedule from Ball State University. And what a great schedule it is. I’ve always been very protective of my Fridays. It’s project and work day. The day I make sure I have everything ready for the upcoming week. That all my big projects are finished from the previous week. Giving me a weekend where I can actually write and do the things that need to be done.
This trend continues. This fall, I’ll be teaching:
- Journalism 326: Media Ethics (T, TR 1230-145)
- IComm 399: Digital Projects (T, TR, 2-315)
- Journalism 280: Introduction to Magazine Writing (T 630-915)
I can’t even begin to express how excited I am to teach these classes. It’s the happiest I’ve been in my four years of teaching on the collegiate level. The folks at BSU have worked very hard with me to make sure that both the department and I came to an amicable meeting of the minds.
The department has also put together a “hardware” grant to help those of us who need computer equipment for research and teaching. With the help of some of my friends (because even with grant money, I’m still use this equation: cheapest + most functions + relative quality = the one I am going to buy. Thanks dad.), I’ve assembled a list of equipment that would make my life immeasurably better.
What’s been so amazing is the follow through by the staff and professors. Actually it frightens me a little bit because that means *gulp* that I’ll be asked to step up my game. Which is a good thing. The last piece of advice the CFO at Technology Review told me before I came to academia: you travel at a million miles an hour, you get things done. Don’t let the world of academia slow that down.
I’ve felt extremely bogged down since I came to Northern Kentucky University. Mostly because I’ve been asked to carry the load for recruiting, curriculum development, teaching, administrative work, lab work and the million little pieces that can be lumped in as “miscellaneous” while simultaneously taking up most of my time.
There are reasons for that. None are of interest here. But I bring them up because of the contrast. The simple fact the lab tech has put together my computer and lab, the department is getting grant money for what I do, the schedule came with no surprises, the fellowship came through.
It’s as if a giant weight was lifted off my shoulders. I feel light in the feet. Not that there isn’t work to be done. Hell, I’m already behind and I haven’t even started there yet. But the work I’m doing is part of the whole in the department. Everyone seems to be swimming not only in the same stream, but also in the same direction.
This is a very good thing.
