4 posts tagged “work”

Last semester, I wrote a letter of recommendation for a terrific student.  While she may not have had the highest grade in my class (although, it's pretty hard to get high grades in my classes to begin with), she was certainly one of the brightest, most insightful, and most compassionate students I've had the chance to teach in a while.  She's just a pleasure - and I was so happy to write a letter telling prospective schools that.  She even wrote me a thank you note and gave me a Starbucks card as a thank you (my addictions are well known to my students).

Well, today she sent me an email saying that she had been accepted into her top choice graduate school - one in which we were a little worried because her GPA, while strong, was not stellar (and this is a top notch Ivy program that she wanted to get into).  But they did take her - and boy, are they lucky to have her!  I know that my letter was only one small part of the package, but I would like to think that my being able to say great things about her helped in some small way.  She's a great student, a great person, and is going to do great things in her life. 

This is one of the things I love about my job - knowing that I've had some small role in the lives of people who are going to make this world a better place.  It may not be much, but it keeps me smiling on my way into work.

I leave in the morning for orientation.  I've settled on an awesome pair of deep red shoes.  I have matching nail polish.  I think I'm ready - now I just have to fold my laundry and pack my bags.  I also just found out that my new University has just jumped up six spots in the U.S. News and World Report College Rankings - not a bad way to start a new job!  Now I guess I'll get some sleep and be refreshed for all the schmoozing!  Have a great night!

Here's my question of the day - can you wear maroon suede heels to orientation?  Is it proper?  Do I lose credibility as a "serious scholar" if I wear them?  They are absolutely amazingly adorable - I know that I will look cute.  But do I want to look cute?  And really, at the end of the day, am I worrying too much?  I'm sure the answer to that is a definitive yes.

Seriously, why am I worrying about this?  There are three things that will get me tenured and promoted: teaching; service; and, scholarship.  I think I've been a rather effective teacher for a few years now - my students don't mutiny, the grades follow a pretty nice bell curve distribution, and I get good evals.  So there's one worry out of the way.  I'm pretty sure my students won't shoot me or anything.  Then there's service to the university - I've already served on several committees as a grad student and managed to learn how the process works, so I'm not too worried about that.  I know that I'll have to learn about the ins and outs of this new school and the intricacies of advising my students, but I should be able to handle that.  And then there's scholarship.  I think I'm okay there too.  I have a dissertation that's publishable - at least a couple of articles will come out of that.  I'm part of a major grant that will publish several articles over the next few years and I really enjoy the stuff that we're working on.  Then there are a few other things I have going on in the background, so those should get published as well.  So really, what am I worried about?

I think I'm overreacting.  I'm going to wear those maroon suede shoes - after all, orientation is probably going to be boring enough.  I may as well do what I can to spice it up.  Now as long as I can keep my mouth shut (I tend to blabber on a bit when I'm nervous), I think I'll be okay!

So this is it - my first blog posting on my new blog.  My old blog, should I call it that, is on a place where my soon to be new students could find me, so my friend k8 suggested a move to Vox and here I am!  So now it's after mid-night on a random Monday night, exactly one week from my first day of new faculty orientation, and I'm bored and can't sleep because there are visions of syllabi not being copied in time and spinach stuck in my teeth on the first day (although I teach at 8:00 a.m., so maybe I don't have to actually worry about the spinach part) running through my head.  Today the transition from graduate student to professor seemed especially daunting, as I cleaned out my old office, packed five years worth of books, research, papers, and life into my car, and started figuring out what I would say during new faculty introductions.  Then tonight I brainstormed assignment ideas and future papers with a friend - it all seemed very "faculty" like.  I guess that's my new life.

Of course, as I have learned over the years, the most important thing about starting a new life is having a great pair of shoes to go with it.  So tomorrow it's off to the mall to get some - and a new outfit for orientation.  I feel rather confused about how the whole wardrobe thing is supposed to work - I am one of two females in my department (the other being a full professor) and I am the youngest in the department by several years.  Basically, there's no hiding the fact that I'm young and female.  So how do I dress appropriately (other than not having plunging necklines or microminis, of course)?  I'm confused about how to match my personal style (I like to think of it as classic with some panache - red shoes, for instance) with my professional style - I'm in the social sciences, so I think I'm allowed to be a bit trendy, but where's the line?  Do I have to give up my favorite funky shoes?  Am I allowed to wear pink?  Do I have to wear suits?  Can I wear jeans on days that I don't teach (especially if it's a Friday)? 

Can you tell this is my first time in a legitimate job?  It's the first time I have the job I wanted - really, it's my first career job.  And I'm excited and confused at the same time.  I guess the only way to deal with it is to start reading those books I assigned my students and make sure that I bring someone else shopping with me (it can never hurt to get a second opinion).  I guess the rest will all come with time.  Besides, it can never be a bad day if you're wearing great shoes.  Off to bed - I'm sure I have some insomnia curing books running around here somewhere!  Have a great night and thanks for reading!