For the past few weeks, even the past few months, I’ve felt quite insecure about my path in academia. Sure I love the classes and the stimulation of learning, but I’ve questioned whether I really have what it takes to be a great historian (this feeling struck me especially hard in a seminar on Monday where I just wasn’t on the same page as some of my colleagues).
But, in the past day or two I’ve had some affirmations that I’m on the right track [Note the train metaphor…]. Just thought I’d share them with you…
1) I may be headed to Paris next month for a conference with some leading lights in the History of Medicine field.
2) I was offered and have accepted the position of ‘Book Review Editor’ for a really cool academic journal.
3) I’ll be involved in putting together an encyclopedia of Disability History.
Anyways, thanks for listening and thank you for your continued support. 🙂
You’re so awesome! (and an inspiration, as well)
I loved being in grad school, but it also soured my interest in going into academia. I really like teaching, but it often seems to be marginalized by the other responsibilities of a faculty member.
When I was in school I was almost sidelined by my disappointment with academia as a procession. But I finished my doctorate and developed a full head of steam running down a different line as a practitioner of public health, rather than a theoretician. In any case it sounde like you are doing well.
I’m really impressed! 1, 2, and 3 are all great!
Paris is one of my favorite cities. Contributing to your theme, I like Gare de l’Est, but you may prefer Gare Saint Lazare with it’s Beaux-Arts styling.
An encyclopedia of disability? What a fine idea! It sounds like a huge project.
Always a pleasure to listen to your interesting blog.
Sorry, procession = profession. Perhaps academia really is a procession.
Great news…just when you need it the most, those affirmations from the universe flood in.
Another splash of good news…
A book which contains my interview of Terry Tempest Williams now has a publication date of July 24 (it was slated to come out almost 2 years ago), a most ausipicious date for a Mo book because it coincides with the day that Brigham Young first arrived in the Salt LAke Valley. Too cool 🙂
What academic journal are you going to be book review editor for?
Linda:
Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.