“So me put in/work, work, work, work, work work”
-Rihanna, “Work”
I am exhausted today from chores, grading, class prep and bathing two dogs, but I want to share a quick story.
I like what I do. I think of teaching as a rewarding thing in and of itself.
Yes, I enjoy researching. I think I have things to say that people need to hear. But my research isn’t more important than my teaching. That is what we — in academia– do.
When I was in graduate school, the people in my PhD program tried so hard to avoid teaching. When we had teacher training meetings, mentoring meetings, etc. the majority of the people involved acted deeply put out, like they were being tortured to have to think about teaching writing to first year students.
In one meeting, I commented in exasperation “I sort of wonder why some of you are even here, what you’re training for. This is the job. This is what we do.”
Everyone stared at me.
I’m glad I don’t feel like the only one who feels that way anymore.