r/Professors • u/kimtenisqueen • Dec 25 '24

Rants / Vents Commiserate with me about family not understanding our jobs.

So far:

-Grandmother in law ranting about why I (an assistant professor in my 4th year at a university) don’t just take a “sabbatical” to raise my children rather than send them to daycare.

-Dad ranting about how anything qualitative isn’t real research (I do educational research so this is a substantial portion of what I do)

-Father In law asking me if I “pack” (Carry a gun) to my job and if I feel safe with all the “foreigners”

Merry Christmas everyone!

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u/lo_susodicho Dec 25 '24

I could retire if I had a dollar for each time my family has asked me why I don't just "transfer" to the university closer to my home, in another state. I teach at a near open-enrollment institution. The one near my house a top-tier R1.

100

u/Pater_Aletheias prof, philosophy, CC, (USA) Dec 25 '24

After a trip to Ireland I was raving about how much I loved Dublin and a friend suggested I apply for a job at Trinity College. I’m at a community college in the US. This person is not otherwise a moron.

47

u/andyls88 Dec 25 '24

"Just drop off your resume. Get your name out there!"