Read on Twitter
I thought I'd share "a week in the life" to give insight into the varied work and emotion that can unfold in such a short time as an academic, curator, writer and well, human-being.
#academicchatter #chronacchat #chronicallyacademic #AcademicTwitter #ecrchat
[1/15]
#academicchatter #chronacchat #chronicallyacademic #AcademicTwitter #ecrchat
[1/15]
Last Friday, I had an interview for a P/T permanent lecturer position at a post-92 university. I must have put a weeks work of unpaid labour into the application and presentation prep combined, and was stoked to be shortlisted from the over 100 applicants.
[2/15]
[2/15]
It felt a lot more open and holistic than other academic interviews of late (last back in February, that was a full HE strategic bonanza), setting me up positively for the rest of the day. Are things starting to slot into place?
[3/15]
[3/15]
Afterwards, I went for a site visit at 'Woodings Yard', a new studio complex, to view a potential 1st studio space to develop more commercial bookbinding practices (maybe an imprint?), alongside workshops. The idea of being back in a creativity community again was great!
[4/15]
[4/15]
Self-care Saturday and check up time at the doctors. I'm in the midst of a viral flare (not Covid) and temporarily immunosuppressed. I've pretty much been shielding for the past 6 months, which many don't know. To some being "visible" means being healthy. ARE YOU OK?
[5/15]
[5/15]
The rest of the weekend involved resting, fresh air and writing as I had a book chapter deadline for an editor in Australia (paid writing btw, which is rare). Anxious focus crept in as I awaited the interview outcome. I'd forgotten how much energy "the wait" takes.
[6/15]
[6/15]
Parts of Monday/Tuesday comprised teaching prep for a 'Designing a Proposal' workshop, for the 'Research through Practice unit I lead @UALTLE - hello again VLE, as I worked out how to create breakout rooms in Collaborate. This was followed by 1:1 student tutorials.
[7/15]
[7/15]
Conversations largely focused on anxieties surrounding the new academic year, return to physical spaces, commuting, then progress reporting on work as if an afterthought. As my students are also staff, there was a consciousness for their student cohorts. So many unknowns.
[8/15]
[8/15]
In the interview, they said they would call by Tuesday, which came and went with nada. By Wednesday morning, when in learning technologies training to inform my SFHEA @HEAcademy portfolio - any tips? - I saw the generic rejection email drop in my inbox. Here we go again.
[9/15]
[9/15]
The email had no soft edges or real personalisation. I felt despondent as I've worked with them as an AL + VL 3 times in the last decade. Good feedback mechanisms are so important for wellbeing in moments like this. Then the doorbell rang, it was imposter syndrome again.
[10/15]
[10/15]
On overthinking Thursday, I received assessment feedback from the 'Supervising Research Degrees' unit I'd completed @UALTLE @Seda_UK_, compulsory in my 1st year as a PhD supervisor. I got a B! Not too shabby Marsden. Another professional development 
and needed boost.
[11/15]
and needed boost.[11/15]
It feels clarifying to be on the otherside of the PhD experience now. Reminding me, I'm need to start mapping my book chapter on researcher identity and chronic illness for @rellypops @routledgebooks new series on 'Wellbeing and Self-care in Higher Education' due in Nov.
[12/15]
[12/15]
By Friday, balance and perspective had slowly resumed as I clicked into full writing/editing mode to get the other book chapter done. The switch to see the text as a whole happened at 2pm. My mom giving it a quick proofread later that day - anyone else ask their parents?
[13/15]
[13/15]
The chapter left my inbox at 10pm last night, entitled 'A Fiction of our time? China's Photobook in Absentia'. It's actually the second book chapter I've written in this field. Can't wait to share it with the world, and its by one of my favourite publishers too! Eek!
[14/15]
[14/15]
And so, its the weekend again. Although time is a bit of a vortex at the moment around the small structure of an AL contract and bits of other work. Time to stop staring at screens, bake bread and read books.
Oh and in case anyone has any openings, #lecturerforhire!
[15/15]
Oh and in case anyone has any openings, #lecturerforhire!
[15/15]
