Musings on Time Management and the Writing Center

In a couple of days I will submit my grades and go into 'retirement'. The funny thing is that I am already questioning that decision, thinking about how I will miss school next semester. I guess the grass IS always greener on the other side, huh?

I've been doing a lot of thinking about my career path. I like to teach, but I dislike the responsibility of a classroom. You see, I am no good at budgeting my time. I cannot discipline myself. Yes, the past few years I have gotten good at doing all of my work at school--rarely do I bring something home. Yet a stack of papers that should take two hours takes four hours at school. There is so much other stuff to do there! Yak with people. Walk around. Look on the internet. It all builds up into a big grey cloud over me by the last 5 weeks of the semester. A cloud of depression and wishing I could just effing quit.

Well, this semester I lost a pregnancy during week one of classes and requested to be released from my two freshman courses because they require so much emotional investment and because there was nobody who could assume the junior courses on such short notice. My Chair said okay, but you've gotta work ten hours in the Writing Center each week to make up for it.

And do you know? I love the WC. I liked it when I worked at the WC at Degree Granting Institution all those years ago, but I love it now. I am 15 times more competent than I was then and I now know how to use a thirty-minute session to make a significant impact on a kid's approach to the assignment. Plus, I can't goof off and check the net or walk around. I am busy and there is no time to slack! In other words, I get to teach but without the issue of me having to govern my own time. The appointment books and the WC receptionist govern my time.

I wish I could work there, and only there, with no teaching.