After the Ph.D., Will I Return or Not Return to Teaching

Sharpening Your Saw: Social/Emotional & Mental

“Will you start teaching now that you have a Ph.D.?” she asked.

Silently I laughed. I just couldn’t stop laughing in my mind.

When I stopped laughing, I said, “I’ve been teaching for twelve years.” The thought of teaching that long sent a shock through my system. I hadn’t realized I’d been in the collegiate classroom that long.

 

My teaching career is God-ordained. I say that because of I never, ever desired, or planned to teach. I dreamed of climbing the corporate ladder and breaking glass ceilings; living in a log cabin writing books.  I have worked in the corporate world but did not break glass ceilings. I had written books and published several essays, articles, and poems, but I have not lived in a log cabin. I’ve been teaching as an adjunct lecturer since 2006.

 

In the Beginning

This lady at my church suggested I send my resume to the department where she worked. The department was hiring people to teach college writing.

 

I submitted my resume although I had no clue about teaching college writing. I had facilitated an array of creative writing workshops. My resume was rejected because I hadn’t completed my master’s degree. Ironically, two years later I did graduate with a masters in creative writing. The position was offered to me again, but I wasn’t interested. Truth be told, my feelings were hurt.

 

In 2006, I worked as a newspaper editor and again the position as adjunct lecturer resurfaced. I had knocked the chip off my shoulder, so it was easy to apply. I had the qualifications: a degree, teaching and journalism experience, along with published works. I started two weeks after the interview teaching two classes for the fall semester.

 

I learned that teaching college students about composition and rhetoric was challenging because they did not want to be there. English 101 was mandatory. Most hated writing. The students couldn’t understand why they had to take more writing after twelve years of forced writing. I had no answers. I remained busy reading, grading essays, creating writing assignments, giving quiz-like tests. I learned that teaching writing as a passion versus a mandatory educational requirement was not fun. Yet, I had fun in the classroom during my first semester.

 

After the first student hugged me in the hallway for a great semester, student accolades followed in the classroom, in the hallway, at the mall, at church, in restaurants and libraries, even on Facebook. Students enrolled in my class based on recommendations saying my cousin, my sister, my brother, my friend, my wife recommended you. I worked hard for my students, and I expected them to work hard for me.

 

I even had the opportunity to work as a temporary full-time lecturer. A steady paycheck, a full class load, and an office. Some days my colleagues asked if I were having a party because students took advantage of my office hours. Some came to cry, while others came to laugh. A few picked my writing brain. Some of us prayed.

 

When teaching began to change

After my three-year contract ended, I returned to adjunct status. It wasn’t fair. I was angry. I continued to teach but begin teaching in two schools. I did nothing extra only what was required. I went to the class taught the lesson. I scaled back on writing assignments and reduced quizzes to decrease my grading load. I streamlined my curriculum to spend more time on my doctoral studies. Not that I didn’t care about the students, I did. I was fully aware that as an adjunct there were no privileges or promises or promotions. I even incorporated my doctoral studies into my curriculum and my curriculum into my postgraduate studies. (The method helped me write my dissertation in one year.)

What I soon discovered, adjuncts had no respect and rarely did a college or university hire them full-time. I had hoped, but time and time again the door to full-time was slammed in my face. And then a few things happened.

1. I made it to the end, defended and passed my dissertation.
2. At the end of that semester, a student sent me this email:

Hello Professor!

I just wanted to thank you again for everything that you taught us! I was expecting something entirely different when I started school, I thought we were going to learn English (grammar, etc.). I always enjoyed my writing assignments in high school, but I’ve never thought I would be capable of doing something like what we did in the past few months.

When I wrote my first poem for this class, I could believe it, I was so proud! It made me realize I’m capable of things that don’t even know about. I know it sounds cheesy, but during the (writing) process I became stronger, I feel like I can stand up for myself better than before because I believe in myself more.

Also, as I mentioned in class, I could finally forgive my dad, even if I denied I was mad at him. Thank you so much for this little journey, thank you for the assignments (I’ve never thought I’d say thank you for the homework). Thank you for complimenting us a lot!!

Have a wonderful day, Nora 

 

The semester before that a young lady said you didn’t teach us English you showed us how to be human. Thus, I have a Ph.D. in English Literature, and my field is humanities.

3. I received an email that not only canceled one of my upcoming classes but indicated my class was being offered to a full-timer who needed a full load. I was chop liver. Four years at this instruction mattered not. I knew the name of the game, as an adjunct, it’s feast or famine. Every 12-week contract was at-will.

Something inside me changed. Everything about academia was changing. I no longer thought tenure-track or professor status made my heart go pitter patter. Teaching became my passion and my profession. I enjoyed teaching as much as writing even though teaching is more comfortable. The thing about me and teaching, I never try to be cool, I’m always honest and don’t care if students like me. I am not only in the classroom to teach, but I’m also there to learn and have as much fun with my students.

I am at a crossroads now with this Ph.D. and the next step.  I’ve been reviewing job descriptions, requirements and thinking about leaving academia. I can teach both writing-creative and scholarly—as well as literature, multicultural, black studies and woman studies. I am a fantastic researcher with excellent administrative skills. Ah, I am proficient with social media, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Drive, and Dropbox as well as Moodle and Blackboard. I’m even at the stage of paperless although sometimes I need paper. (Women need to learn to promote themselves; therefore, this is not boasting.)

At this moment instead of searching for a job, I’m developing my writing opus both scholarly and creative. I’m revamping my CV and my Linked-In profile. Since teaching is a God-ordained gift in my life, I’m sure I will continue to teach, I’m just not sure if I want to return to academia.

Until, next week.
I pray, God’s best for you.

 

 

 

 

 

Tags academia, PhD, teach, writing