Ex-academics missing fall semester start-up check in here

[HereSince1628]

I know everyone thinks the best thing about teaching at college (or k-12)is the myth of having summers off.

But one of the hardest things about being outside the academy is watching the school year start without you.

So, check-in, commiserate, and/or tell the rest of us about the change.

[KCDem]

1. I'm missing it!

After 24 years of school/college/grad school, and a one-time dream of teaching college Russian (which I did for a few years while a grad student), it's weird to be on the outside. Next year, my own child will begin the odyssey. I look forward to watching her and her younger sister create their own paths.

[HereSince1628]

2. "Dobrya Dien," KCDem

Did you go out and buy new clothes in preparation, anyway?

[KCDem]

3. Privet!

As if I have money to blow on back-to-school clothes these days!

I did go buy some things, but that's because I'm sorta thinking about getting a job and I don't have any "real-world appropriate" clothing. I miss having a job where I can dress in jeans and a t.

How about you? What did you teach?

[HereSince1628]

4. Zoology

my specialty was ecology of parasitic disease in wildlife. It took me to Russia for a couple of summers.

[Interrobang]

5. Me! Me! Me!

After 7 years of primary education, 5 years of secondary education, and 5 years of tertiary education (equalling two degrees), I'm getting itchy to go back. With luck, I'll be starting my PhD a year from now!

[HereSince1628]

8. Choose major well, or ... you'll soon become another ex-academic

Hey, really, good luck. What are you thinking about?

[Brazosboomer]

6. 25 years

It's been 25 years since I last taught school (left to make a living), but I still have that litle ache in the Fall when I see the school bus pull down my street.

I volunteer in public schools now that I'm semi-retired. I discovered that volunteers make only slightly less than teachers.

[HereSince1628]

7. Yes, school busses and flashing crossing lights in school zones...

Is that Brazos as in " Washington on the..." and "Ain't no mo cane on the Brazos"

[GalleryGod]

9. I MISS teaching SOOOOOOOOO Baddd!

:loveya: Loved those fresh faces filing in to Intro to Politics

[HereSince1628]

11. Yeah, they are veritable fountain of youth

before leaving academia I was aging in school years...
which work something like this ... you're NEVER a real adult until you finish your last degree, and then you only age 3 months a year in the summer because the age of people in the classroom never changes.

[dofus]

10. I've never been a teacher,

but attended k-12, then a year of college, then started working full time. Ten years later I resumed part time school, which I've continued on and off to the present.

I have two sons, one in college, the other in high school, and most of my life my year has been linked to the rhythm of the school year. I wonder if I'll ever not be shaping my life around the school year.

[cmd]

12. I didn't go back to school this year

and so far I love it. Every day this week has been like Christmas.
I do believe I'll get used to it.

[HereSince1628]

13. Sounds like you made the right choice...

everyone should enjoy a week of Christmasses :)