That's exaclty how I view my job! It would be so much easier if there weren't students. BUT, it would be far less fun! As the new semester dawns, I have to say that I am truly excited about the way the year seems to be shaping up. Already the faculty seem to be buying into my plans for departmental changes and the students seem to be "different" this year. I don't how how to define or describe this difference, but they just seem more open and engaged in class. I am looking forward to the course of the semester and don't see this year as an interepution of the things that truly matter to me--reserach and writing.
That being said, I am fully convinced now that my future lay not in academic history, but rather in more popular pursuits. I will still have an active research plan, but my audience (I hope) will now be the public at large rather than 10 other PhDs who are also specilists in my field. What would be the point of that? Some of you are going to look at this and see nothing but career suicide. I understand that within the profession this is so, but I see so much more in the world where I could use my talents than academic history. Some of reading this post are to blame for this decision--and I whole heartedly thank you!
Still, coming from this point, I am looking forward to the semester and actually fairly fired up about the course of the year!
